MIKAEL LUSTIG reckons he knows why the Sevco Rangers players cheered when they heard the Scottish Cup draw – they knew they would get an extra week off at the end of the season.
Stand-in boss Graeme Murty revealed his team had erupted into joy when they were paired with the champions following their home win over Championship side Falkirk in the previous round.
But the Swedish international defender insisted the joke was on them when Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham thumped in the goals that gave the Parkhead side a 4-0 win at Hampden yesterday.
Lustig said: “Obviously, there was a lot of talk, but we stay calm, we’re humble and we do our talking on the pitch and we’ve won again.
“I didn’t really react, to be honest. However, they probably knew they were going to get some extra days off and get an extra holiday – that’s probably why they were cheering.”
Celtic made it 10 successive Glasgow derbies unbeaten – eight wins and two draws – and Lustig said: “Rangers couldn’t find a way to do something against us.
“I think it must be damaging for them. From the start, we showed we wanted to play football.
“They didn’t press us, they didn’t make it hard for us. It maybe sounds a bit cheeky, but it felt quite easy.”
Skipper Scott Brown also couldn’t resist taunting the well-beaten opponents over their delight at the Cup draw against the holders.
He said: “We just knew as soon as we turned up that we were going to win.
“They can can cheer as much as they want, I don’t think they’ll be cheering tonight.
“We knew, from start to finish, that we were going to dominate this game. We fancied it. We know that when we turn up and play our game on a good pitch that nobody can deal with us.”
Read more from Celtic Quick News …
- SEVCO: AFTER THE BRAWL WAS OVER…
- ‘MOUSSA BULLIED ‘EM,’ GRIFF
- ‘BRING ON THE BIG GAMES,’ BRENDAN
- ‘IT’S GOING TO BE TOUGH,’ KT
- WELL DONE! CELTIC FANS’ HAMPDEN BOOST
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