BRENDAN RODGERS has one remaining opportunity to claim a derby victory in 2025.
The Celtic manager has seen his champions play their Ibrox rivals FOUR times this year without success; losing two and drawing the others.
The year got off to the worst possible start with a 3-0 nosedive in Govan on January 2 and Rodgers and his players had that sinking feeling again when they lost 3-2 in the return fixture at Parkhead in March.
There was a 1-1 stalemate at Ibrox in May and the Hoops settled for a point in the no-score snore draw at the same venue last month.
READY, STEADY, GO…Celtic players in the huddle before the 0-0 draw at Ibrox last month.
In the space of nine months, Rodgers has failed to overcome three Govan gaffers – Philippe Clement, Barry Ferguson and Russell Martin.
Now the Irishman has the chance to set the record straight after they were paired with their city foes in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final at Hampden on the weekend of November 1/2.
The holders eased into the last four following a 4-0 success over Championship side Partick Thistle at Fihill yesterday with goals from Yang Hyun-jun, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounetki and Luke McCowan.
Rodgers is eager to atone and, looking back to the dismal 0-0 stalemate on August 31, admitted: “I said it at the time, for both teams, Ibrox wasn’t a great game, to be honest.
“My only worry is Celtic, but we weren’t in our best place, even though in other times, if you go to Ibrox and you get a point, it might be deemed okay.
WATCHING BRIEF…Brendan Rodgers doesn’t look too impressed.
“For me, it was just about trusting the team and trusting how we work. More importantly, trusting the players, which I do and I can see the fluency starting to arrive.
“Whatever team you play in the semi-final, going to Hampden, I think that was important for us to get back there.
“There are a lot of games between now and then and, hopefully, we can build the rhythm and keep growing and arrive in a good place for the semi.”
Reflecting to the win in Maryhill against Old Bhoy Mark Wilson’s side, Rodgers, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “It’s such a long season.
“It’s still very early, but seeing that on this occasion shows that we’re on the right path.”
