BRENDAN RODGERS insists Celtic must get their “trophy head on” as they prepare for six crucial encounters in the campaign’s crescendo.
The champions are firmly in control of their destiny and they know they are five good results away from claiming their third successive title and their twelfth crown in 13 years.
The holders also face a grand finale against Philippe Clement’s Ibrox outfit in the Scottish Cup showcase on May 25 where a triumph could seal a silverware double and bring the crusade to a successful conclusion.
The Hoops are now gearing up for Sunday’s match at Dens Park against Dundee, a team they have beaten three times this term with an aggregate score of 13-1, and Rodgers admitted they must hit the ground running after the stutter against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final last weekend.
HAMPDEN HALLELUJAH…Brendan Rodgers applauds the Celtic fans after the dramatic penalty-kick success against Aberdeen last weekend.
The Northern Irishman watched his team concede a goal inside two minutes and twice through away the lead at the end of the regulation 90 minutes and extra-time before esging through 6-5 on penalty-kicks.
It was far from vintage Celtic and Rodgers said: “The standard of our performance wasn’t what I would have liked, but sometimes in life it’s really important to overcome situations and obviously we achieved the goal which was to get to the Final.
“But we also had to overcome lots within the game. So, the players did absolutely brilliant to get through that and show that nerve and mind-set right at the very end.
“But now we’ve got to shift the mind-set to the league and that’s where our concentration is.
“This is the period where you’ve got to get your trophy head on – and you get your focus on what it takes to become a champion.
“The players here are well-versed in that. They understand the mind-set, they understand the psychological traits that are needed at this stage.
“Physically, you’ve done a lot of your work – you might have one or two players that are looking to get back in or up to speed – but, in the main, it’s all psychological now.
“This is the part of the season where the team have been, very, very good and this club have been exceptional.
“But you have to do it and that’s that’ll be our focus, each game at a time now, starting at Dundee.”
ON THE RUN…Daizen Maeda is racing towards a Celtic comeback.
Rodgers has been given a boost with the news Daizen Maeda could make a surprise comeback before the end of the season.
It looked as though a hamstring problem was going to bring a premature end to the Japanese winger’s contribution to this campaign, but he now seems poised to play his part in the surge for glory.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Fingers crossed he will play some part between now and the end of the season, which is fantastic news because he has been consistently really, really good.
“To have him back and his intensity will be a fantastic boost for us.
“I was speaking to Tim Williamson, the head of our medical team, and he said in his time here that he never fails to amaze him in terms of his recovery and just his overall physicality.
“There are still a few more steps to go, but having him back would create a really strong squad for us.”
