GOAL a game Leigh Griffiths is delighted to be back in the starting eleven and scoring regularly for Celtic again after a difficult spell for him personally.
Moussa Dembele’s departure will be quickly forgotten if Griffiths continues his scoring form that has seen his score in the last three matches against Rosenborg, Kilmarnock and last night against St Johnstone.
Brendan Rodgers appreciates that his number 9 now has his mojo back but reckons that Griff could have had a hat-trick in Perth – see HERE.
Speaking in his post match interview with BT Sport – who really are doing a great job covering the game in Scotland – Griffiths set his sights on semi-final opponents Hearts.
“Hearts will be a difficult game. They’re doing well and they’re top of the league.
“They’ve shown why they’re top of the league because they’re a good side. At Hampden, we’ll always show our quality and we’ll need to bring our ‘A’ game to get into the Final,” Griffiths stated, although at that stage unaware that there could be a change of plan on the venue for the semi-finals. It looks like both will take place on the Sunday with one at Hampden and the other at Murrayfield.
That should all be sorted out shortly. On last night’s game, Griffiths was delighted to get the all important goal which was no more than Celtic deserved.
“It’s always nice to win. We created a lot of chances, and we needed to put them away. But we got the win, that’s the most important thing and now we’re into the next round.
“In Cup competition, the most important thing is to get in the hat for the next round, even if you don’t play well.
“As a striker, you’re going to miss chances, but you need to be there to miss them. I just need to keep plugging away and when more chances come my way I need to try and take them.
“I should have got couple more, but, thankfully, we got the win and we go up the road happy.
“I’ll miss chances all the time, but I’ll be in the right place to miss them. As a striker, you’re going to be judged on goals and as long as I’m putting the ball in the back of the net I’m doing my job.”
On a separate note, Alex McLeish reckoned that Griffiths needed to be starting and scoring regularly for Celtic if he was to regain his shirt for Scotland. Leigh’s done his bit.
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