DOUBLE TREBLE
Hoops boss says another clean sweep would be even better than last time
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BRENDAN RODGERS says another domestic clean sweep will eclipse Celtic’s unprecedented season of Scottish invincibility.
The Hoops boss is zoning in on another slice of football history as the champions set their sights on back-to-back Trebles.
Celtic entertain Ross County this weekend as they close in on seven-in-a-row, with a Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden in a fortnight.
Rodgers also revealed he is ready to unleash Scott Sinclair, who has been tipped with a return to England, because it’s the stage of the season in which he revels.
He said: “We are entering a really exciting time. It is another period where there is a chance to re-write the history book and will need everyone, w e players, supporters.
“It has been a brutal season, essentially back-to-back, and to try to do the job on the back of last season has been very good.
“It was always going to be difficult to re-create what we did last year and on the back of the recovery the players had last summer, which was minimal, it was probably impossible.
“If we did exactly the same this year, it probably wouldn’t have the same feeling as last.
“But if someone said to me we would reach the Champions League, make the last 32 of the Europa League, won a League Cup and be 10 points clear with a game in hand and in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, I’d have snapped their hand off. JACK HENDRY has been in the door only two minutes and Brendan Rodgers is already tipping him for a 10-year residency with club and country. The Celtic boss has enthused about the impact made by the “If it was to be done this year it would be better. It’s incredible to think the Treble has become near enough the standard but there’s actually the possibility of it again. “There’s no doubt if we finish this season with that it trumps last year’s.”
Sinclair has been a shadow of the player who dominated Scottish football in his first season when he scored 25 times and was named player of the year. He has netted 17 times this season, but only twice since the turn of the year.
Rodgers said: “Scott is very happy here. He really turns it on in the big games.
“He has scored more than 40 goals over two seasons, but he has had experiences that makes him appreciate what he has here.” 22-year-old stopper (left) after his early form at Parkhead was rewarded with a first Scotland cap against Hungary.
Rodgers said: “He was outstanding and he has all the attributes to be an international footballer.
“For his first game Jack was absolutely fabulous and showed real promise.
“But my reason for signing him was always a belief he can develop into a top-class player.
“Jack has come in from Dundee and settled very well. He has the qualities to play for Celtic and the international team for the next 10 years or so.”