So Brendan Rodgers’ exceptional Scottish Cup document continues, this time with a 2-0 win in opposition to Hibs in final Sunday’s quarter-final tie at Celtic Park.
The deserved victory, which arrived courtesy of targets from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah, maintained the supervisor’s 100 per cent document within the competitors throughout two spells in command of Celtic.
Twenty wins from 20 matches is a formidable statistic. With Rangers out of this season’s competitors, it will likely be no shock if that’s prolonged to 22 by the summer season.
Unerring consistency over such a prolonged interval is uncommon, particularly in knockout competitors the place there may be all the time scope for even the very best groups to come back unstuck.
Whereas pink playing cards, personal targets or simply dangerous days on the workplace usually are not deadly to a league marketing campaign, they’ll carry a cup run to probably the most abrupt of halts.
Nevertheless, Rodgers’ Celtic are all the time at it, hardly ever go away themselves uncovered to misfortune and, if we’re being trustworthy, carry a bit luck in relation to Scottish Cup attracts.
Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers kisses the Scottish Cup manner again in 2017
Moussa Dembele rises highest throughout victory over Albion Rovers on the Excelsior Stadium
Kyogo and Maeda have been on scoresheet when Celtic beat St Mirren in Paisley in Cup final 12 months
Of these 20 victories that Rodgers has presided over, 12 have been at Celtic Park and 6 at Hampden, the place the semi-finals and finals are held.
Simply two of the ties have been elsewhere. Rodgers’ first expertise of the Scottish Cup was a 3-0 win at Albion Rovers, and there was a 2-0 triumph at St Mirren final 12 months.
Apparently, that Albion Rovers sport was performed on the Excelsior Stadium, which implies that solely certainly one of Rodgers’ 20 Scottish Cup ties has been held on the dwelling of Celtic’s opponent.
The attracts have been variety alright, however Rodgers and his gamers are to be recommended for taking full benefit. His flawless document is certainly one of which he might be rightly proud.
Perth shall be identical to Parkhead for followers in potential title get together
Speaking of dwelling benefit, McDiarmid Park shall be like a house from dwelling for Celtic once they tackle St Johnstone of their Premiership conflict on April 6.
If Brendan Rodgers’ runaway league leaders win their subsequent two video games at Parkhead, in opposition to Rangers and Hearts, they’ll clinch the title with victory away to St Johnstone.
Consequently, the Perth facet have introduced that Celtic followers shall be housed in three of the 4 stands of their stadium.
It’s a transfer that gained’t go down effectively with the purists within the Saints assist, particularly amongst these season-ticket holders who should be moved into the Geoff Brown Stand to accommodate the guests.
Celtic’s gamers kick off the celebrations after they have been topped champions final season
Celtic followers proven earlier this season in Perth, the place they may doubtlessly win this time period’s title
Celtic supporters rejoice throughout a visit to McDiarmid Park again in 2022
Nevertheless, the Premiership’s backside membership are at pains to emphasize that it is smart for them each from a security viewpoint and economically
A St Johnstone spokesman described the match as having ‘the potential for distinctive points’.
He added: ‘There may be elevated curiosity on this sport and there may be respectable concern that Celtic supporters might acquire tickets in dwelling fan areas, creating extra issues of safety. We imagine it’s thus prudent to consolidate our assist within the Geoff Brown Stand.
‘We all the time attempt to create the very best dwelling benefit for our staff however, along with the security of our followers, we should additionally take into account the monetary realities that include working as a sustainable soccer membership.
‘Substantial extra income shall be earned from permitting Celtic followers to fill the East Stand, income that can profit our participant funds for subsequent season.
‘Consequently, and following prolonged discussions, we are able to affirm that away supporters shall be allotted the East Stand, North Stand and Ormond Stand. As there are accessible seating areas within the East Stand, we is not going to be required to promote tickets to away followers within the Geoff Brown Stand.’
All of it has the potential for an enormous title get together in Perth, assuming Celtic beat Rangers and Hearts.
Then St Johnstone shall be hoping they are often get together poopers, not solely at McDiarmid Park however when the groups meet within the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden over the weekend of April 19 and 20.
Kieran Tierney nonetheless taking part in an element for Arsenal… at Raheem Sterling’s expense
When Kieran Tierney agreed final month to rejoin Celtic in the summertime, Brendan Rodgers was requested whether or not there had been any prospect of an earlier transfer north.
In any case, what did Arsenal want with a participant who had spent a lot of the season within the remedy room and had fallen out of favour together with his supervisor?
Had been Celtic not near securing a January switch? Or not less than a mortgage transfer for the defender who had already signed a pre-contract settlement?
‘No, it wasn’t shut,’ stated Rodgers, stressing that it was out of their fingers and that Tierney would proceed to be part of Arsenal’s squad for the remainder of the season.
Kieran Tierney in motion for Arsenal in opposition to Manchester United at Outdated Trafford final weekend
Tierney was performed as a winger in opposition to United, and saved Raheem Sterling on the bench
Now we are able to see why. Tierney has come on instead in every of his membership’s final three video games: at half-time in opposition to Nottingham Forest and with quarter-hour to go in opposition to PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United.
Extra intriguingly, he has been given a unique function. Within the final two of these video games, he has been deployed nearly as a winger, providing vitality, width and a harmful supply from his superior place.
His half within the 1-1 draw at Outdated Trafford final Sunday was fascinating. With their title problem fading, Arsenal wanted a second purpose, however Arteta most well-liked Tierney to Raheem Sterling, who remained stony-faced on the bench.
A winner by no means got here, however Tierney made an affect, including urgency to an Arsenal facet who have been struggling to discover a manner by means of. His contribution was appreciated by supporters, who later voiced their approval on social media.
Arteta, it appears, doesn’t share their enthusiasm for Tierney, not less than not in the long run, however he has sufficient respect for the participant’s potential to incorporate him in Arsenal’s efforts to remain in contact with Liverpool.
All of which is nice information for Celtic followers, who’ve a prime participant coming their manner. They’ll scarcely wait to welcome again the 27-year-old academy product who lifted eight trophies throughout his first spell on the membership.
Tierney is a title-challenging, Premier League expertise, a Scotland worldwide who is powerful, versatile and about to rejoin the Parkhead facet at what ought to be the height of his profession. If he can keep away from the accidents which have too usually held him again, he shall be fairly a signing.
Younger participant trades in Hoops jersey to launch his personal style label
Honest play to younger Bruno Davidson who has introduced that he’s retiring from skilled soccer to begin a brand new profession within the style trade.
The 20-year-old winger had been an everyday in Celtic’s B staff, performed in opposition to Actual Madrid within the UEFA Youth League, and represented Scotland at Underneath-16 stage.
However forging a path into the primary staff proved troublesome for the Singapore-born participant, whose contract was on account of expire on the finish of this season.
So Davidson has opted to surrender on his dream of a soccer profession, both at Celtic or elsewhere, and as a substitute launch his personal clothes label.
Bruno Davidson, proper, in motion for the Celtic B staff in opposition to their Rangers counterparts
Bold Bruno Davidson is quitting soccer to launch his personal style label
Younger Davidson pictured in full flight for the Celtic B staff in opposition to their fierce metropolis rivals
The brand new model, referred to as Bruno Narducci, is impressed by the label of his Italian grandfather, Pasquale Narducci, and represents the fulfilment of a long-held ambition.
‘For many who know me, this isn’t a sudden shift,’ defined Davidson on Instagram. ‘My resolution was remodeled a protracted time period and was effectively thought out and deliberate. That is one thing I’ve been enthusiastic about for years and now I’m able to take that subsequent step.’
Not many gamers within the youth system will make it into Celtic’s first staff. Some will even wrestle once they go away the membership and drop to a decrease stage.
Davidson was a promising participant who was greater than adequate to earn a residing from soccer, however there are not any ensures on this sport.
By stepping away from the uncertainty, he has taken management of his life and launched into an thrilling, potentially-longer profession in a enterprise that’s particular to his household. Good luck to him.
Giorgos Giakoumakis is not the one Celtic hyperlink down Mexico manner
Celtic followers who wish to preserve tabs on their former favourites will little doubt remember that Giorgos Giakoumakis has lengthy since traded the MLS for all times in Mexican soccer with Cruz Azul.
Now the Greek striker has been joined in Mexico Metropolis by one other European adventurer who as soon as got here near shifting to Celtic himself.
Mateusz Bogusz is a Polish worldwide midfielder who was focused by the Parkhead membership as a direct substitute for Matt O’Riley following his transfer to Brighton final summer season.
Former Celtic striker Gorgios Giakoumakis, left, is now starring for Cruz Azul in Mexico
Giakoumakis was a favorite with Celtic followers however he determined to go away Parkhead
Giakoumakis has been joined by Mateusz Bogusz, left, who was linked with transfer to Celtic
Talks with MLS facet Los Angeles FC didn’t go far as soon as it was revealed they might require a bid beginning at £8million to think about promoting the previous Leeds United man.
That didn’t deter big-spending Liga MX facet Cruz Azul, who in January paid £8.5m for Bogusz and provided him FIVE instances the wage he was on at LAFC.
He has linked up with Giakoumakis, and the pair look destined for silverware this season with their staff seven factors clear on the prime of the desk.
The Mexican league has managed to lure its fair proportion of European expertise over the previous decade. Former Dutch worldwide Vincent Janssen spent three years at Monterrey after his failed spell at Tottenham, whereas Actual Madrid icon Sergio Ramos is presently captaining Monterrey on the ripe outdated age of 38.
France World Cup winner Florian Thauvin spent two seasons with Tigres UANL earlier than returning to Europe with Udinese.
Nevertheless, it’s certainly one of his former team-mates who’s the king of European settlers in Liga MX.
Andre-Pierre Gignac, himself capped 36 instances for France and a shedding finalist at Euro 2016, left Marseille for Tigres in 2015 and is now in his tenth 12 months with the membership, having scored a whopping 190 targets in 386 appearances.
Giakoumakis and Bogusz have some solution to go to succeed in the requirements set by Gignac.
