THIS is what Brendan Rodgers had to say in his pre-Cup Final press conference…
THE FEAR FACTOR
“I said last year that thing for me is that whenever the time comes to leave here I wanted to know I wasn’t a total disaster.
“That is always the fear. You come into a club you support and you’ve got to be with friends and family for the rest of your life once you’ve gone saying you were hopeless.
“At least I have got something to show and if we can get our sixth trophy in two seasons it would be absolutely amazing.
THE DOUBLE TREBLE
“You think of the great history of Scottish football – in all the various eras and levels of players – and there’s a reason why it’s never been done.
“All you want is a chance and we have a chance. It’s a brilliant chance for us. I never say to the players ‘you’ve got to take this chance because it will be the only chance in your life’ because part of me thinks ‘Do you not think you can do it again?’
“So I never really go down that route with players but there’s no doubt there’s an opportunity to write another chapter in the great history of the club, there’s no doubt about that.
HAPPY HAMPDEN MEMORIES
“My happiness would be for the players, for the supporters. It’s a chance to create history in the club and that’s great.
“My job, as I said when I first came in, was to inspire supporters and give them some great memories. If we win, that will do that for them.
“There is a different feeling this year because of that experience that the players have gained. You can anticipate a bit more how it will all work out.
“But certainly when we get up on Saturday morning and get ready knowing we are coming in to a really special occasion then of course the edge and the adrenaline will start to kick in.
“But we had a wonderful experience last year. It was fantastic to win it and to win the treble was a real special occasion.
THE RIGHT MINDSET
“Over the couple of seasons that we’ve been here I’ve been really pleased with seeing that growth and development in the high-pressure games.
“The level of their football in those games and how they’ve stayed calm and controlled in them is key. When I think back to when we first came a couple of years ago, there was a real trepidation around coming to Hampden for all the players, supporters, staff, workers at the club.
“It is a mindset that has changed. It doesn’t guarantee that you are always going to win, but what it does is give you what we all want in life, which is a chance and an opportunity.
“I sense that even this week. It has been great to look back on some of my notes and some of my plans from last year and see what my thoughts were to then looking at it this week.
WE WON THE TREBLE
“There is an equal focus, but we did it last year, we won the treble. That always gives you confidence and gives you that level of control going into the game.
ENGLISH ARROGANCE
“For as long as I can remember there has always been that look from the south that the game is better down there.
“The perception is never the reality. Coaches, managers and people within the game understand the difficulties of it.
“They understand the complexities of trying to re-energise things after what we achieved last year. Players who ran 15m to press a ball last year might only want to do 10m this year.
“But you know you still have to get them going and pressing. It’s not anything to worry about.
“There are some great clubs up here and it is a competitive game. Our job is to win and that’s what we aim for.”
BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY
It’s Beautiful Sunday! Have you got one of these yet?
The latest podcast is out today- it’s part 2 of the brilliant interview with Celtic’s SLO John Paul Taylor where he selects the games and the soundtracks of his own personal Celtic journey. Loved his memories of the 4-2 game in the first part of his interview. Here’s the latest instalment from the UK’s Football podcast of the year…
Listen to “John Paul Taylor with A Celtic State of Mind (Part 2/3)” on Spreaker.
