Auston Trusty arrived at Celtic in August 2024, and it didn’t take long for him to understand from the inside what separates the club from so many others. The American defender has become an important figure in Celtic’s resurgence under interim manager Martin O’Neill, a sharp contrast to the spell earlier in the season when he found himself on the bench under Brendan Rodgers despite having returned from injury.
Just over a year removed from his switch from Sheffield United, Trusty has been reflecting on what he learned about the club the moment he walked through the door. According to him, the expectation to win isn’t just a standard — it’s a non-negotiable part of the club’s identity, something that shapes the culture at every level.
He explains that this mentality drives an intensity that players must match every single day:
“Across sport in general you should never accept losing, but at Celtic it goes even further — losing simply isn’t part of the vocabulary. You’re expected to operate at this incredibly high frequency all the time, and you have to learn to live at that level.”
Trusty admitted that the relentless expectations follow you home as well:
“Sometimes, for your family, it’s not ideal because that same intensity comes through the door with you. With three matches a week, it’s hard to switch it off.”
He added that maintaining this level every day naturally shapes performances on the pitch:
“Once you adjust to staying in that high-frequency mindset, everything becomes about training the way you play. Our sessions are intense, and the standards are sky-high. Champions League football is a different challenge compared to the Scottish league, but we still have to hit the same level.”
The American stressed that Celtic’s demanding schedule makes this consistency essential.
“You might play a league match and then two days later face a Champions League opponent. You have to be sharp, focused and switched on — because if you’re not, you risk getting embarrassed.”
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