It’s been a superb prologue to the Finale despite the languid protestations of a few. We wanted complete dominance, we got most of it- so far, so very good…
Brendan Rodgers. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Brendan came back, and, quite frankly, since his return to the greatest gig of all, there’s never been such a divisive Title tilt in our emotional history.
We were shorn of our League Cup locks on a plastic pitch in darkest Kilmarnock, a trophy which, although least important, gave the fans a reason to bile as theRangers cavorted with the Cup.
Kilmarnock v Celtic – Viaplay Cup – Second Round – The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park Celtic s Sead Haksabanovic is tacked by Kilmarnock s Lewis Mayo l during the Viaplay Cup second round match at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park, Sunday August 20, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh
The knives were sharpened, and the Carnlough serial winner in a previous incarnation in Parkhead was being vilified, and name-called. Rightly so? That’s up to the individual, as we all felt the full damning effect of his departure when we were blindsided in the dark of the night.
Brendan Rodgers speaks Joe Hart following Celtic’s 1-0 at Ibrox on September 3, 2023. Photo Steve Welsh
The league campaign gave us mixed signals as the trophy flitted back and forth across the River Clyde, both sets of punters cheering and booing in equal measure as the battle raged. Now, Celtic Football Club is sitting on the precipice of something we have fiercely guarded with our hearts for decades, historical greatness.
This club has led the charge in terms of achievement, unsurpassed since 1888. We have not faltered; we have not waned with two undisputed and genuine 9-in-a-rows, and a European Cup, perhaps the greatest in the history of the tournament(s).
With a single point from two games in this year’s Championship, allied with a Scottish Cup Final victory over great rivals, theRangers, Brendan Rodgers will lead this great club into Scottish Football history, should we be successful.
theRangers v Celtic – cinch Premiership – Kyogo celebrates with Matt O’ Riley after scoring the winner at Ibrox on Sunday 3 September, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan
Having seen off theRangers and as yet proudly undefeated by them this season, the Championship is a technicality; the Cup, not quite a given. There have been several anomalies which have cropped up this week, and there’s work still to be done, especially in defence..
Brendan has done a number on Philippe Clement, his mind games sending the seemingly delusional Belgian mastermind into a tailspin of rhetoric after the fact. Even his own support now groan and hold their heads in their hands when he opines.
That’s the difference! That’s brilliant management from Celtic’s Champion-elect, and I’ve been a critic of his tactics/formations at times this term. However, with a scratch side and mostly not first-picks at his disposal for a huge chunk of the season, we’re almost at the finish line.
I won’t follow my instincts and criticise the below base commentary, average punditry and opinion pieces of the perennially biased fools who blight our screens and auditory senses with their, ‘I wish’ blindsight.
No, I won’t go there. But, I will go here. Celtic are just about back to full strength, and should we win our next three matches we will overcome the blowhard claims of our city rivals in terms of numerical supremacy.
Titles and cups- we’ll be in touch with the Ibrox group of clubs’ boastful figures and with the massive cash injection of our Champions League bounty we should surpass even the most ludicrous claims by May of ’25.
May 25th – what a wonderful date for a historical Cup Final against your greatest and most fervent rivals. Hopefully, the new Lions will roar onto Hampden Park that day, the dreamscape of so many Parkhead legends, McGrory, McNeill, Jinky, Wispy, Dalglish, Connolly, Dixie, McStay, Larsson, Dembele, Edouard and Kyogo.
What scenes we’ll embrace should they bring honour, glory, and a new history to Celtic Football Club. Every achievement is born of a dream, and, as our dear friend, Willie Wallace and the remaining Lions will testify, sweet dreams are made of this.
Eddie Murray, Brisbane CSC