Celtic star Paulo Bernardo has shrugged off the ongoing non-penalty award meltdown by rightfully reminding everyone, ‘we won the trophy’…Honest mistakes can happen in football, VAR or no VAR…
The Portuguese u-21 skipper started and played 71 minutes at Hampden Park on Sunday before being substituted for Celtic’s record-breaking signing Arne Engels late in the second-half.
Bernardo merited a Cup Final start
Bernardo merited a start due to his eye-catching displays in recent domestic matches which caught the attention of Brendan Rodgers to reward him with a place in the starting XI for crucial back-to-back games against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and then theRangers.in the Premier Sports League Cup final.
Battling hard in the middle of the pitch, Celtic’s midfield playmaker played a significant role in the Hoops’ second-half turnaround. Indeed, it was Bernardo’s inviting corner for Greg Taylor’s equaliser that proved pivotal in Celtic fighting back from 1-0 down.
A lot has been made in the media around Philippe Clement’s side not being awarded a penalty after Vaclav Cerny was pulled down by Celtic’s half-time substitute Liam Scales in the first-half of extra-time.
An Honest Mistake
Now, theRangers new incoming CEO Patrick Stewart, who conveniently decided he wanted to start officially in the role on Monday, stated he had written to the SFA demanding an explanation to why a penalty was not given. And Willie Collum is set to admit officially that it was AN HONEST MISTAKE but probably would admit that he thought that they were only supposed to happen FOR an Ibrox outfit and not AGAINST them. Maybe referees need EYES IN THE BACK OF THEIR HEADS after all Willie?
VAR has already denied Celtic two penalties that Collum said should have been given, now we apparently have had a rub of the green with one not being given that should have, so we’re still down 2-1 are we not?
“We don’t focus on that decision”
However, Bernardo explained he and his teammates securing the club’s 119th honour was completely justified: “We don’t focus on that decision. We just move forward now,” he said.
“We won the trophy after a very good game and that’s all we think about. It was a difficult game on Sunday. Both teams played well, and it was a good game for supporters to watch. But we had almost 70 per cent of the ball and I think we deserved to win the cup.”
“In the final moments, we had the quality to win the game, and the players did so well in the shootout. When it came to the big pressure moments, we delivered. Our objective was to win the trophy, and we managed to do that.”
Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Party
Speaking at the Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas Party, Bernardo reiterated the Hoops’ mindset is the key factor behind yearly dominance.
“All we wanted was to lift that trophy and it felt so good for us as a team and a club. The mentality is so strong within the squad. No matter what, we know that we have to find a way to win. We won the League Cup and now we move on to the next one.”
“It was important to win on Sunday and we celebrated – but now we move on. We want to win all the trophies, of course, but we need to take it step by step and not look too far ahead.”
Up next for Paulo Bernardo and Celtic is a trip to Tannadice on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership. Remarkably, it will be the first time Brendan Rodgers will have faced Dundee United over his two spells as Celtic manager.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties
By popular demand, both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special Christmas dedication to your copies please let us know. Postage deadline for Christmas is next Wednesday. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…
OK. The trophy is in the cabinet and there is a huge game coming up on Sunday. Let the ragin tribute act deflect and get unsettled prior to the weekend.
Meanwhile , the Champions. Just keep going……
HH
Sour Grapes .The excuses have become farcical and typically, eyes blinkered by their daft masks ! (although, at least the world doesn’t have to see the Orc look). Kasper Schmeichel in the box sums up the pettiness. They didn’t notice their own keeper standing behind and not “on the goal line” as per law 14 of the game “The Penalty Kick” – a direct infringement and unlike Schmeichel’s,(wrong again hunny) one that can have the penalty re-taken. It has allowed the press to ignore Celtic won the cup, deny them their rightful praise and they can run with their rhetoric. Interesting that it only began with Mr excuse himself in his press conference ???
Great result.
Roll on Ibrox when the Hoops management will remind the squad of the need to meet fire with greater fire and to be focused from the off for the whole game.
They weren’t on Sunday.
Hail Hail.