Rodgers urges Celtic to win Scottish League Cup

GLASGOW: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers heaped praise on his players after they booked their place in the Scottish League Cup final with a 1-0 win over Old Firm rivals Rangers.

Moussa Dembele’s 87th-minute winner was the difference at an intense Hampden Park on Sunday, with Rodgers now hoping to lead his side to the first trophy of the season when they face Aberdeen in the final on Nov 27.

The Hoops are unbeaten in domestic competition following Rodgers’ arrival in pre-season, with the Scottish champions also qualifying for the Champions League group stage following a two-year absence.

The former Liverpool boss, whose side top the Scottish Premiership by four points with a game in hand, has not hidden his desire to add more quality to the squad, but is delighted with what his players have already achieved this season.

“I think it has been a great start to the season for us. You can see the collective mentality,” the Celtic manager, always the arch optimist, said.

“Every element of our game was at a high level.

“When you consider we were coming off the back of a really tough Champions League game in midweek (a 2-0 loss at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach) then I think the players deserve a huge amount of credit not only for their performance but their strength and mentality to get the victory.

“I know there are areas I want to improve on over time but the players are performing magnificently well,” the Northern Irishman added.

“They have that hunger to succeed and, as I said, they are playing at a real top level tempo with and without the ball. But in order to rubber-stamp that, you have to get trophies.”