Manager: We have to play well to reach the final

Celtic F.C.

·1 November 2024

Manager: We have to play well to reach the final

The Celts are at Hampden tomorrow (Saturday) for a huge Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen.

The Dons are currently second in the SPFL table, and, just like the champions, find themselves nine points clear of the chasing pack.

OneFootball Videos

Brendan Rodgers’ men met Jimmy Thelin’s side a few weeks back at Celtic Park, with the match finishing 2-2 after the Celts had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half.

Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s highly anticipated cup clash, Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers said that his side are well prepared for the test of facing Aberdeen.

“Having played them a couple of weeks ago, we seen that they’re a really good side,” he said. “They’ve done so well this season.

“It was a game that we should have won. I’m pretty clear on that in the game and analysing the game afterwards.

“We were 2-0 up and had other chances, and we were punished for our slackness in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

“That showed us, if you’re slack and not concentrated and committed in your defending, they’ve got quality players who can hurt you.

'We know that we have to play really well to get to the final.’

“At this stage, everybody wants to get to the final so we’re really looking forward to it.

“We’re in a really good place as a squad and a team, and we know the challenges of the semi-final, but we’re really looking forward to performing.”

Hampden Park has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Brendan throughout his spells as manager, with tomorrow being his 12th visit to the national stadium.

He has never been beaten in any of his 11 previous visits and so far has overseen an aggregate scoreline of 25-6 in favour of the Celts.

Speaking at the champions’ Lennoxtown training base today, the Celts’ manager spoke about his excitement at returning to Hampden and the importance of being composed in such a pressurised environment.

He said: “It’s always been a great joy to go there, but for me I’ve always treated it like it’s my first time.

“That has been my mindset - I’m really excited about being there and seeing half the stadium full of Celtic supporters and having the opportunity to either win a final or get to a final, and it’ll be no different tomorrow.

“It’s just ensuring that you stay calm in your approach. It’s that balance between being super aggressive and showing that real hunger to get the ball and being defensively organised and then playing with that calmness and speed when you have the ball.

“Leading in to this semi final, both teams have had a midweek game, so the concentration for us was on the Dundee game and then we can flip quickly on to this one.

“It’s been very focused, for us every game is a big game.”

Despite clinching a domestic double last season, missing out on the League Cup is something that the manager is looking to rectify in this campaign.

The Scottish League Cup is a trophy which holds a special importance to Brendan, given that it was the first trophy that he picked up as Celtic manager back in 2016, defeating Aberdeen 3-0 in the final, and reflecting on that success, he added: “It was brilliant, it was a great feeling back then in the first time that I was here.

“We played ever so well in the final, so I think it gave the supporters a little bit of trust in me that I was here to win and we could win.

“It was the one that alluded us last year and that didn’t sit comfortably with us.

“So we have a chance now and that’s what we want, and we look to bring that running game where we’re very strong to a really good surface and play our football.”