CONFIDENT Celtic No.2 John Kennedy insists the Hoops “are building towards something special”.
Ange Postecoglou’s trusted right-hand man has seen the club enjoy extraordinary success in the recent past with 10 titles in 11 years and another one almost certainly on the way at the end of this crusade.
Kennedy was part of the backroom team that saw the Parkhead side complete the phenomenal quadruple treble and he saw close hand how Neil Lennon’s successor picked through the wreckage of the failed 10-in-a-row campaign to resurrect the team to winning status again.
SMILES BETTER…John Kennedy and Ange Postecoglou with the newly-won League Cup after the 2-1 success over Hibs at Hampden last season.
Postecoglou guided the side to a Premiership and League Cup double while the Scottish Cup quest ended at the semi-final stage when Carl Starfelt unluckily misdirected a left-wing cross past Joe Hart six minutes from the end of extra-time.
The first piece of silverware is up for grabs at Hampden on Sunday when the holders lock horns with Michael Beale’s Ibrox outfit in the Viaplay Final.
And Kennedy is convinced Celtic are on the brink of more glory as he says: “You can feel it when you are part of these things,
“You get a sense every day the team are on it and really hungry. They have a real intent and focus. I’ve seen that through all of those eras.
“I remember it in Brendan’s team. They had the bit between their teeth and a huge hunger to succeed and to continually succeed.
“We’ve got a group now who have had a small taste of success, in terms of what the club has achieved over the years.”
JUST CHAMPION…John Kennedy and Ange Postecoglou hold aloft the Premiership trophy.
Kennedy, speaking to the Scottish Sun, added: “They’ve got a taste for it and they are hungry for more.
“When you have that in a group it’s very strong. The manager uses it psychologically all the time.
“He’s very good on that side of things and motivating players. We certainly feel at the moment we are building towards something special.
“But we can’t take our eyes off the ball.”
The Hoops didn’t blink in the east end of Glasgow in September when they raced to a three-goal half-time advantage with a double from Liel Abada and a superb solo strike from Filipe Jota.
David Turnbull brought down the curtain on a fine performance when he rolled in the fourth goal.
DOUBLE UP…Liel Abada fires in his second goal in Celtic’s 4-0 derby romp in September.
Daizen Maeda kept up the good work when he stormed through the Ibrox rearguard to fire the visitors into an early lead on January 2, but, uncharacteristically, Postecoglou’s side offered their opponents a way back into the contest after the break and Ryan Kent equalised.
James Tavernier put the home side ahead with a penalty-kick and, after Celtic had been denied a stonewaller following a bout of basketball from Connor Goldson as he beat away a shot from Carl Starfelt, Kyogo Furuhashi clipped in the leveller two minutes from the end.
Lessons were learned in Govan that day.
