7 Celtic presser takeaways as Brendan Rodgers swats Clement comments away ahead of Old Firm final clash
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has spoken to the press ahead of the Hoops' cup final clash against rivals Rangers on Sunday - taking the chance to respond to Philippe Clement's comments about the financial gulf between the two clubs.
Rodgers took over Celtic last season and completed a domestic double, though it was the Premier Sports Cup that he missed out on, having been dumped out by Kilmarnock in the early stages of the tournament.
He'll want revenge for that alone, but given the gravitas of the situation, the Hoops boss knows that he has to win for more than just silverware, with Glasgow bragging rights on offer just a few miles away at Hampden Park. Here, Football Scotland highlights seven key takeaways that the Northern Irishman showed.
Injury updates
"The squad is healthy, We expect Ali (Johnston) to be okay. He was out on the pitches this afternoon. Hopefully, everyone is fit and available. It was just an extra bit of recovery for him, really. He's been an outstanding player for us over the course of his time here, and in particular this season he's been instrumental in our work. But yeah, speaking to him earlier and obviously out on the pitch, he was fine, so we expect him to be okay."
The big Hampden occasion
"It is like every one of them. It's a really special game, a Celtic Rangers final. Obviously, we had one a number of months back in the Scottish Cup final, so there's always a great build-up to them and always a real excitement at the games. For us, it's a special game, but it's the next game and the next game that we want to win. So that is our mindset. going into it, we've enjoyed Hampden, we've enjoyed playing there.
"The pitch suits us, it's a big pitch. So when you play through pressure at a press, then there's lots of space for you to play, and that's something that in my time there we've enjoyed, whether it's been a semi-final or a final. So yeah, a final is a final, and it's a competition that we obviously missed out on last year, so we're very hungry to look to win this one.
"More excitement, more excitement. I know what this game means to people. We have a number of these games throughout the season so you never get tired of them or bored of them. They're an incredible game to be involved in. It's such an iconic fixture throughout the world. So to have the possibility to have maybe four, five, six of them in the season is absolutely amazing. They're all challenges but I think this is what we're built for. The tougher the challenge, that is what we really [thrive on]."
Revenge for last seasons' cup failures
"Well, we don't have it, so that is something that we didn't take last season. I always think it's the first trophy of the season. We've had a brilliant season up until now, and this would be a great way to show that. You have to earn it, and that's what we're ready for."
Finding the determination for more trophies
"I'll look back on that once I'm finished and once I'm done, I think that people say that going into these games and the wins at Hampden and everything else, it doesn't really count for much, really, in my own feeling just because you've won, it doesn't mean you can't turn up and not prepare. So for me, the success that we've had there has all been about the preparation for the game, the detail in the game, being super focused and on what it is the players need to do within that.
"That's also preparing that it's a final, so you don't expect everything to go your way, and that's always been the case in all the finals. There's always something that can go against you, so it's preparing and expecting that. In the main, it's always about our feelings going into these games, it's never so much about who we play, it's about how we play, and that's always been a real focus. So going in and playing how we want to, and that's always put us in a really good place."
Facing an improved Rangers
"Yeah, I think [it will be a different challenge]. I watched the game last night, and I thought they did very well in the game. I thought it was a really good game to watch. But yeah, it's always a bit dealing with expectations in these games and how you can bring the level that you want to within the game.
"So, I think for Rangers, they'll want to bring the level that they've been at over these last three, four games. For us, there's sort of that consistency, which we've shown right away through from our pre-season. We want to continue with that. We don't expect ever to turn up and just think it's a formality. It's definitely not irrespective of the form.
"I think I mentioned this last week. No matter what the form is going to take final, it's a one-off game. The two teams will feel happy and sure they're in a good mood to go and play the game and yeah, I'm excited about it."
Shutting down Clement's 'Celtic have more money' claims
"Listen, people have whatever they feel they need to look at within themselves. I'm only interested in Celtic really. I think Celtic have over a number of years been a club that's been organically growing. I haven't been handed money. Someone hasn't come in from the Middle East and given us a load of money. This is something that's been grown.
"The leadership from the very top of this club to the bottom is one of the successes that we've had. We've grown that, developed that and that's allowed us then to win. When you win, that brings more success. So for us, that is all I'm interested in. For the greater good of this team and the club, the club's in a brilliant position but it's all been earned. It's not been handed to us. Everyone has the possibility. Certainly, teams up towards the top will have the possibility to earn the finances and if they don't, then, okay, we have to worry about ourselves and that's my only interest really."
Overtaking Rangers in overall trophies won
"Not really [on my mind]. Not for me, but for me it's for the game. It's about winning the trophy. We just want to win as many trophies as we can. We don't necessarily have to tell everyone. We just want to win and win well and then hopefully get into our next game and look to the next trophy."
