Brenmakes sure that his Bhoysknow their history
CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers gave his players a history lesson before their William Hill Scottish Cup tie with Inverness and they responded with six of the best.
Rodgers stressed the importance of the trophy to the club ahead of the fifthround clash and his players showed a ruthless streak to thrash Caley Thistle 6-0.
There was no doubt about the outcome from the moment Mikael Lustig ran on to Nir Bitton’s lofted ball and finished in style in the 20th minute at Parkhead.
Moussa Dembele had his second hat-trick in six days completed before the hour mark and Celtic were still pushing right to the end, with Kieran Tierney and Scott Brown getting on the score sheet in the closing minutes.
It was a 29th win in 30 domestic games for Celtic under Rodgers and they show no signs of letting up, especially with a TrebleT up for grabs.
“I said to the players beforeb the game that the S Scottish Cup is synonymous with Celtic – 36 timesi the club has won the tr trophy,” he said.
“My memories as a ch child growing up, a lot of it w was based around the Sc Scottish Cup.
“We want to make it 37. I said we had four cup fi finals and now we have th three cup finals.
“So we just keep our fo focus, put it to bed until th the next round. But it’s a co competition, like them all, thatth we want to do our veryve best in.”
Rleague, but it still seems a long that Celtic can
ne way away. Even though we are overcome. While in the quarters, we just need to the Hoops pro- UT while that is untake it from there, make sure duced exciting doubtedly Celtic’s goal we get into the semis and hopefootball to get this season, Forrest fully the final. their goals, they insists that the topic is off“Someone is going to need also stood up to limits at Lennoxtown. to play at their best to beat us. the physical
“No one has spoken about But we have had off days as challenge of the the Treble at all,” he said. “[On well when we’ve had to grind visitors in a bruising uising Saturday] the manager just out results. We can do it that opening period. spoke about getting into the way as well. “They got a few yellow quarter finals. “We need to keep focused. cards in the first half,” ODGERS warned after the game that “The manager said, ‘Just go It’s only one game a week for a he said. “They were his side would conout there and start well’. We few weeks so we need to make kicking us but the e boys ti tinue to improve throughgot a goal early and the performsure we are doing it in training kept going, we kept pt get
ou out the season. ance throughout the team was and keep our levels up.” ting back up and d got a
“I always felt as the seareally good. It gives us someOne of the pleasing aspects few goals. That’s thehe best sonso goes on we will get thing to look forward to. So far of the win over Inverness for thing to do – keep p them betterbe and better and betwe’ve won the League Cup and Forrest was that it again showrunning and score e more ter,” the former Liverpool
tem have done really well in the cased the different challenges goals to put them down.” manager said.
“We have a little bit morem coaching time in the Cup this season as they go all out to win a historic Treble.
Bne second part of the season, so we can prepare the players in training, work well and just keep them focused.”
Inverness manager Richie Foran was eager to move on from the defeat and lift his players, who have gone 13 Ladbrokes Premiership games without a win.
“Six goals was maybe a bit flattering for Celtic but that’s football,” he said. “I told the lads we need to forget about this now.
“They can do that to any side when they play like that.
“They have created that fear factor now which had been gone for quite a few years.
“It’s probably the best Celtic squad for quite a few years as well.
“They are flying with confidence, flying with energy, flying with pace and they have an abundance of quality.”
Foran heavily criticised his players after a recent 3-0 defeat by Hamilton, accusing some of lacking bottle and hiding.
But he was at pains to absolve their character after their latest heavy loss and ordered them to return to training with “smiles on faces”.
“We were totally outclassed but we don’t play Celtic every week, thankfully,” he said. “We lift ourselves again, that’s what we are good at.
“We’ve got leaders in there, characters. We’ve got bottle.
“We go again Tuesday. There will be no hiding from my players, that’s for sure.”