Today was a phenomenal day in the history of Celtic Football Club. Not only was the Scottish Cup won for the 38th time, now five times more than the next club, but Celtic won their fifth treble, and became the first Scottish team to win back to back trebles. That is some achievement.
The game itself was won by a slick professionalism which had certainly been lacking in those awful games against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen. The first half saw some beautiful Celtic passing football with Motherwell struggling to get over the half way line, and Celtic being rewarded by two good strikes by Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham, both of them from a distance which was a hallmark of Celtic last year. The second half was more even but there was always the feeling that even if Motherwell pulled one back, we could up a gear and score again. On the other hand, one goal could have brought two, so we had to defend well, and this we did. Possibly the free kick that hit the bar was the only time, however, that my heart was really in my mouth.
My star defender today was Dedryck Boyata. This man has suffered some dreadful abuse in social media over the season from some of our supporters who, I hope, now are going to have the grace to apologise. Ajer was also good, and I assume his substitution was the result of an injury. Craig Gordon had one very good save at the start of the second half, and was a safe pair of hands throughout the game, particularly in the second half.
The midfield was strong. About Scott Brown little more needs to be said. Callum McGregor had a better first half than he had a second, and the same could be said perhaps about the wizard of Ox, Tom Rogic, now a very popular fellow with the Celtic support. James Forrest was competent (although no more than that!), and I thought Olivier Ntcham rose to this occasion magnificently. Moussa Dembele did a lot of tricky things, but lacked the cutting edge that might have brought us a third goal, but in the end it didn’t matter.
What did matter though were the celebrations as the end, and what a magnificent sight Hampden was today! This is indeed, the “greatest show in earth”, and how lovely it was to see all these happy faces! We maybe could have done without the flares, but the political stuff about the genocide in Palestine was totally relevant,(some people don’t turn the other cheek, unlike western governments) and how nice it was to know that not everyone went all gooey and weak at the knees about that wedding. “We think the Royal Wedding is a farce”, I think I heard them singing … or something like that.
Other than the atmosphere, I enjoyed the heat, the sheer amount of women and children in our support, and the colours at the end, particularly silver which goes well with green and white. I had a wee laugh at the linesman who was hit by the ball, but when I discovered that it was no less a person than “Red Card! Red Card”, the Tory MP of Ibrox fame, I should have had a bigger laugh. Was there not a wedding or something that he could have been at?
I was in the West Stand today a matter of yards away from the Motherwell fans, most of whom were a decent lot. Pity about the cretins on Stairway 10 at half-time who threw some plastic bottles at the Celtic fans, but then again the Scottish educational system doesn’t always work, does it? It was a shame, because before the game, Motherwell and Celtic fans mingled very pleasantly together in front of the Main Stand. It was the way football should be, and there really is no excuse for sub-human behaviour. Don’t please, anyone, try to say that it is some sort of illness and finishes with the word “syndrome”! It’s thuggery!
So where go Celtic from here? On an abbreviated holiday, but then back to work for the first European games in July. Brendan Rodgers is king of all he surveys, but will he add to the squad? The money is certainly there, and it would be a mistake to stand still.
In the meantime, bask in the glory of it all! And add 2018 to the list of years which began in 1892, and now reaches 38. When the Celts went up to get the Scottish Cup, we were there!
David Potter
Have you got one of these? Beautiful Sunday should be celebrated all summer long…
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.
