UNBEATABLE BRENDAN AIMS FOR SEVENTH HEAVEN

BRENDAN RODGERS has proved to be unbeatable at Hampden aka Paradise Mark II to the Celtic boss.

The 51-year-old Irishman will defend a proud personal record when the champions go head to head with Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side in the Premier Sports League Cup Final at Hampden this afternoon.

Rodgers has featured on 12 occasions at the Mount Florida ground on the south side of Glasgow – and has come out smiling on each encounter.

The only team to interrupt a perfect winning sequence have been Aberdeen when they forced a 3-3 draw after extra-time in a dramatic Scottish Cup last-four confrontation against the holders in April last season.

However, the Parkhead men emerged victorious 6-5 in the penalty-kick shoot-out to book a place in the showpiece showdown on the iconic date of May 25 against Rangers. Adam Idah had the final say on another day of celebration at the famous old ground for Rodgers.

The Dons were made to pay for their audacity last month at the same venue when they were thrashed 6-0 in the semi-final to set up today’s grand finale. Daizen Maeda was unstoppable as he thundered in a hat-trick with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn adding to a joyous occasion.

The laudable sequence of success kicked off with a 1-0 victory over Rangers, then bossed by Mark Warburton, in the League Cup semi-final on October 23 2016. Moussa Dembele was the matchwinner.

Rodgers collected his first piece of silverware as Celtic gaffer following a 3-0 success over the Dons, then bossed by Derek McInnes, in the competition’s Final the following month.

The Pittodrie side were on the receiving end of another Rodgers celebration later that season when Tom Rogic claimed a late Scottish Cup winner.

And the north east team completed an unwanted hat-trick when they were runners-up again in the League Cup decider on December 2 2018 when Ryan Christie netted the all-important goal.

And, of course, the Dons were punished again last month as maverick Maeda and his marauding team-mates ran amok in a six-goal romp.

Joy Rodgers has made Hampden his personal fortress as he has lifted SIX successive Cups at the arena over his two stints in an unparalleled run of silverware triumphs.

The Celtic gaffer has his sights firmly set on the magnificent seven this afternoon.

The glory list reads:

2016/17

League Cup

Semi-final

CELTIC 1 RANGERS 0

Dembele

Final

CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 0

Rogic, Forrest, Dembele pen

SCOTTISH CUP

Semi-final

CELTIC 2 RANGERS 0

McGregor, Sinclair (pen)

Final

CELTIC 2 ABERDEEN 1

Armstrong, Rogic

2017/18

League Cup

Semi-final

CELTIC 4 HIBS 2

Lustig (2), Dembele (2)

Final

CELTIC 2 MOTHERWELL 0

Forrest, Dembele pen

Scottish Cup

Semi-final

CELTIC 4 RANGERS 0

Rogic, McGregor, Dembele (pen), Ntcham (pen)

Final

CELTIC 2 MOTHERWELL O

McGregor, Ntcham

Season 2018/19

League Cup

Semi-final  

CELTIC 3 HEARTS 0*

Sinclair (pen), Forrest, Christie

Final

CELTIC 1 ABERDEEN 0

Christie

Season 2023/24

Scottish Cup

Semi-final

CELTIC 3 ABERDEEN 3 (6-5 on pens)

Kuhn, Forrest, O’Riley

Final

CELTIC 1 RANGERS 0 

Idah

Season 2924/25

CELTIC 6 ABERDEEN 0

Maeda (3), Carter-Vickers, Kyogo, Kuhn

*Played at Tynecastle with Hampden unavailable.

*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Celtic v Rangers this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.