Kasper Schmeichel chose Celtic over Premier League for two big reasons as Hoops keeper reveals why it was 'easy'

Goalkeeper is loving life at Parkhead and says he would never be motivated by money.

Kasper Schmeichel insists his hunger for a title fight and Champions League nights made it easy to snub Premier League megabucks and sign for Celtic.

The Denmark goalkeeper reunited with his former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead in the summer. But he could have chosen to head back to the EPL where Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers were understood to be keen. Schmeichel, a Premier League champ with Leicester in 2016, has slotted into the Hoops’ side with minimal fuss and conceded just one goal, a penalty, in seven Premiership appearances so far.

And while the 37-year-old former Manchester City shotstopper suffered a bruising night in the Champions League last week as Celtic were battered 7-1 in Dortmund, he insists it’s playing at the very top which is his biggest motivator. Schmeichel, set to win his 108th Denmark cap against Spain tomorrow, told Ekstra Bladet: “Playing for the title, as I am now doing at Celtic, and at the same time being at the highest level in the Champions League, motivates me.

“When I look back on my career, the moments I have enjoyed the most have been the few matches I have had in the Champions League. Of course, the Premier League has a very special place in my heart.

“But for me, it was an easy choice to go to Celtic, where I have come to a club that plays in the Champions League, must win every game and have 60,000 fans at the home games. Those are exactly the challenges that really motivate me. When it comes to football, money has never been a motivation for me.”

Free agent Schmeichel signed a one-year deal with Celtic in July after a season with Anderlecht in Belgium. He replaced Joe Hart who, despite being five months younger than the Dane, decided to hang up the gloves after three trophy-laden years in Glasgow.

Schmeichel has no plans on retiring any time soon. But he’ll leave talk over his longer-term Celtic future until the new year. He said: “It’s something we’ll sit down and talk about at some point in the new year. For the time being, I am not thinking that far ahead. My focus is on the things that happen here and now,”

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