CELTIC are 90 minutes away from the phenomenal achievement of their SIXTH treble in NINE years.
The 55th title in the club’s history was signed, sealed and delivered with the resounding 5-0 triumph over Dundee United at Tannadice yesterday.
The Premier Sports League Cup was claimed in mid-December and now the silverware focus switches to the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday May 24.
Extraordinarily, Brendan Rodgers has won 11 of the 12 honours that have been available to him over his two stints as Hoops manager.
SEALED WITH A KISS…Brendan Rodgers celebrates Celtic’s fourth successive title – and his eleventh honour as the club’s manager.
First-time around, the 52-year-old Irishman collected seven successive trophies – two Premiership crowns, three League Cups and two Scottish Cups.
Last season, during his comeback campaign, he delivered a league and Cup double after the side had faltered in the League Cup against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in only the third game of his return to the east end of Glasgow.
And that takes us today with Rodgers on the brink of his twelfth trophy.
In the afterglow of a job well done on Tayside, the elite gaffer smiled and said: “This is what it feels like to be Celtic, it’s an amazing feeling.
“So much hard work has gone in over the course of the season. None more so than on this occasion, playing against a tough team that don’t concede many goals.
“But to perform like that when it mattered was truly special.
ROARING SUCCESS…Brendan Rodgers practises for a treble yell at Hampden.
“Each year at the club you want to improve and I’ve absolutely no doubt that this team have done that.
“There’s been a bit of progression in Europe. It’s not a feeling where Celtic are really dominant in domestic football and they go into Europe and we get skelped – we showed up really well and were really competitive.
“So that’s the standard that we set and we want to keep developing that mindset.
“But it was a great performance, the team overall, they’ve turned up when they’ve needed to turn up and with the level of football we’ve played, it’s truly been a brilliant season for us in the league.”
The champions have four more league hurdles to face before they can focus on the Scottish Cup showpiece where Rodgers will be planning to bring down the curtain on another memorable crusade in his customary style at the national stadium.
AIMING HIGH…Brendan Rodgers indulges in some aftermatch antics with the Celtic fans at Tannadice.
First up, there’s Barry Ferguson’s side in Govan a week today, then Celtic return to Paradise a week on Saturday which will be followed by a May 14 midweek clash at Pittodrie.
A pulsating sold-out Celtic Park will then enjoy their thirteenth Flag Day in 14 years when St Mirren provide the opposition three days later.
Rodgers, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “We don’t play until Sunday, so now we’ve got a couple of days to really enjoy. It’s been a special day for us here.
“I’m hoping the supporters can go away and be pleased and happy with the team, and really enjoy it.
“And, like I say, we’ll get back in again, get focused and get to Ibrox to look to perform again.”
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