Kasper Schmeichel’s absence from Celtic’s squad at Ibrox on Sunday raised a few questions before the match even kicked off. The experienced goalkeeper missed the derby through illness, with Martin O’Neill confirming before the game that he had been unwell.
Despite that explanation, one small detail caught the eye of supporters after the match. In footage from inside the away dressing room, Schmeichel’s kit could still be seen hanging with the rest of the squad’s shirts.
Celtic TV
That led some fans to wonder why the Danish goalkeeper’s gear had been prepared if he was not involved. The answer, according to Falkirk striker Brian Graham, is far less mysterious than it might appear.
Speaking about the situation, Graham explained that matchday preparation often happens long before any late changes to the squad are confirmed.
He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard),”If he gets ill during the night though, the kitman’s already packed the kit. That’s just what happens.
“The kitman gets everything ready the night before. Everything will go in the van for the away game.
“If Schmeichel has messaged the manager or the doctor on the morning of the game… no disrespect, but they’re not going to pass that up to the kitman. He’ll just put the strips out as normal.
“At that stage yes. Because if the game’s at 12pm, he’s maybe been up since 6 in the morning – the strips are just going out regardless.
“Sometimes you’ll put 22 strips out but you can’t put 22 in the squad, so two of them won’t get stripped anyway. But their strips still go up (in the dressing room).”
Graham’s point is fairly simple. Most of the matchday work is done long before the players even arrive at the stadium. Kitmen prepare everything the night before an away game so there are no last-minute problems.
By the time someone reports an illness or a late injury, the bags have already been packed. Shirts are hung up, boots are ready and the dressing room is laid out exactly the same way it would be for any other game.
1st March 2026; Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Rangers versus Celtic; Viljami Sinisalo of Celtic and Celtic interim coach Mark Fotheringham after the final whistle
That seems to be what happened with Schmeichel. He was expected to be involved before falling ill on the morning of the match, which meant a late change to the squad.
Viljami Sinisalo stepped in and handled the occasion well at Ibrox. In the end, the spare shirt on the wall was just part of the normal routine that happens long before kick-off.
