BRENDAN RODGERS admits Celtic’s 1-0 success over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side in last season’s Scottish Cup Final did not provide a spectacle for the fans.
The Hoops had to wait until the fading moments before Adam Idah lashed the clinching goal past the despairing Jack Butland to seal the league and Cup double in his comeback campaign.
Now, though, Rodgers believes his players are better equipped to defend their trophy against Aberdeen in the showpiece occasion at Hampden on Saturday afternoon.
The Parkhead side are aiming for their sixth treble in nine phenomenal years – and their ninth in their glorious history – when they line up against the Dons at the venue where they hammered them 6-0 in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final in November.
PICK IT OUT…Adam Idah slams last season’s dramatic late Scottish Cup clincher past sprawling Ibrox keeper Jack Butland.
Rodgers said: “The feeling’s really good. It’s where we want to be – in a Final on the last day of the season.
“I think we’re in a better place in terms of another year working together.
“The performance level has much improved, we’ve been much more consistent and I believe we go into this game in a much better way.
“The Final last year wasn’t a great game, if I’m honest, but sometimes those Celtic-Rangers games are like that. What is important is that your name’s on the trophy at the end of it and, thankfully, that’s how it was.
“So, for this Final, it’ll be the same idea – really concentrated and then look to go and enjoy and play our football.”
Rodgers has won all seven of his domestic Hampden showdowns – four League Cups and three Scottish Cups – and the Irishman, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “It’s what and why we do it, to create the memory.
“The first Aberdeen Scottish Cup Final in 2017 was historic. It was such an amazing finish to the game [when Tom Rogic scored the winner].
TREBLE YELL…Tom Rogic roars with delight after netting the last-gasp Scottish Cup winner against Aberdeen in 2017 as Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles seal the domestic clean sweep.
“The Motherwell one after that, we played really well on what was a roasting hot day and won 2-0 to complete the double treble, which was an incredible achievement.
“And then last year, playing against Rangers, to come out on the back of that winning 1-0 was a special feeling and it ended up a great end to the season for us.
“So the games are all special in their own way and that’s what you want to be able to do, to create the memories.”
Rodgers added: “Obviously, what we look to do is continue to build on these records that we create as a club, but what we cannot forget is what goes into that.
“I think people just shrug their shoulders now and assume that that’s what is maybe going to happen, but the work, the professionalism, the preparation, the effort – everything that goes into doing that – it’s an incredible achievement.
“But initially, we want to finish this season strong and add to the context which has really been created around all the trebles.”
