Celtic can complete a domestic cup double when they face Rangers in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday – and the manager believes his side deserve to end the season with more silverware.
After all the challenges his squad faced early in the season, Brendan Rodgers thinks leading Celtic to a league and cup double will be a just reward.
The Hoops, who finished first in the Premiership with one game remaining, will play Rangers in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday with the chance to win yet another trophy to cap off the season. Only a few weeks have passed since Rodgers’ team defeated Rangers 2-1 at Celtic Park, almost securing the title. Now comes the most recent derby matchup.
Rangers had overcome an eight-point deficit at the beginning of the season to reclaim the title thanks to a great run of play under new manager Philippe Clement. However, a run of subpar performances and a devastating injury list cast doubt on Celtic’s ability to defend the Premiership title. However, Rodgers has expressed his satisfaction with the way his squad has bounced back to produce a strong run of play over the past two months and he has praised his players for overcoming that difficult time.
“We come into the game in an ideal condition as we have been on fire in the last few months and have been playing really well,” he stated in a press conference prior to the championship. When we played every three or four days in the beginning of the season and had a lot of key players absent, we faced a lot of difficulties.
However, as the season has progressed and the pressure points have increased, the players have performed well in handling those situations. We are in good shape going into the game, having won the league in a fairly impressive manner.”
Although the Irishman claims he would do anything to win another championship as Hoops manager, he admits the Parkhead supporters are his primary source of inspiration. “You can never have that arrogance,” he continued. We approach our work with humility and show respect for any opponent we face, be it Raith, the Rangers, or anyone else. We need to get ready for the match.
“It’s more important to contribute to others than it is to win the double; for me, that satisfaction would be enough. When it comes to Celtic vs Rangers, particularly, the supporters give it their all as they devote their lives to the team. It would be wonderful to be able to provide that for them.
It would be a reward for the players’ self-control this season. One of the most important aspects of football, both on and off the pitch, is discipline. As the season progresses, we remain committed to our game and focused, and the players continue to reap the benefits. Although it has always been about the satisfaction other people will receive, for me it would mean adding another prize.”
