THE PRESSURE OF PERFECTION
THREE steps to heaven. Three more games to make an indelible mark on the history books. Three occasions on which the pressure will rise accordingly.
That’s what the season has become for Celtic. After 44 unbeaten matches, they stand on the brink of an unblemished domestic season. The pursuit of perfection has entered the home straight.
By this Sunday, we will know if they have attained the accolade of Premiership Invincibles, the first of the modern era.
Thirty-two wins and four draws have brought them to 100 points ahead of Thursday night’s visit to Partick Thistle and a closing encounter with Hearts.
Surpassing the 103point tally set by Martin O’Neill’s team of 2002 is an additional target. In terms of league goals, only one further strike is required to take that column into triple figures as well.
Then, a week on Saturday, comes the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen at Hampden. And the chance for Brendan Rodgers to become only the third Celtic manager to win the Treble.
Everywhere they look in the next 12 days, the Parkhead side will find history staring back at them.
For some, that could prove an oppressive, nerve-shredding experience. Patrick Roberts insists, however, that will not be the case within their dressing room. He expects nothing other than a continuation of the cool, calm focus that has taken Celtic to this point.
‘I don’t think it fazes us,’ argued the winger. ‘We just go on to the pitch and we just want to play the best we possibly can and improve.
‘We just want to get better every game and it doesn’t faze us, making history. We just want to play well. I think that proves we’re a top side and just want to get better.
‘For us, we’ve been the same since we started the season against Hearts. We’ve taken every game as the same and we go into the next two similar and then the Cup final itself. It’s a good two weeks to come and we’re looking forward to it.’
Rodgers made a point of praising the mentality of his squad in the wake of Friday night’s 3-1 success over the Dons. Arguing that the other teams kept looking for Celtic to go ‘soft’, he pointed to a relentless focus on maximising their chance of victory in each and every game. ‘He says that teams want to beat us and are waiting for us to slip up,’ added Roberts. ‘If we don’t do that, we know our game, and we know we’ll come out with the best result. ‘For us, it’s just staying mentally focused and prepared, going into every game the way we have this season and coming out with the result. ‘Is it all about the mind? Yeah, it can be. If you worry about it too much, you can let it get to you and your emotions. But we’ve been resilient this year and mentally strong.’ It is also why Roberts put club before country, even though he is only on loan at Celtic from Manchester City. The desire to see through what could be a very special season took precedence over a place at the Under-20 World Cup. The 20-year-old was a key player in England’s progression to the finals in South Korea, but a May 20 start for that tournament created an obvious clash with the Scottish Cup final. Roberts always wanted to stay with Celtic. And he was delighted when talks that also involved City and the FA ended with him being granted that wish. ‘It was a massive decision between Celtic and England,’ he admitted. ‘But the best decision happened and I’m more than happy to play in the Cup final. I can’t wait for it. ‘I think they (England) can understand the circumstances. To make history at this club, not many players get to do that. I think they understand. ‘I have my reasons and they’ve got a big enough squad and a strong enough one to go and win it anyway. All the best to them.’
Roberts seems to be producing his finest form at the most crucial stage of the season. He has maintained a starting place after shining in back-to-back wins over Rangers late last month.
Victory at Pittodrie provided the most recent reward, as goals from Dedryck Boyata, Stuart Armstrong and Leigh Griffiths blitzed Aberdeen inside the opening 11 minutes.
Roberts, though, doesn’t believe that will give Celtic any additional psychological advantage when the clubs meet again on May 27. ‘Not really, no,’ he insisted. ‘We know what we can do. Pittodrie is a tough place to go, you can see that from the last few seasons.
‘We went there, scored three goals, won the game and now we’re going into the Cup final the same as ever.
‘I think the Cup final just happens on the day.
‘We’ll turn up and we’ll be positive and confident and very well prepared.
‘We’ll go into it strong and that’s all we can do.
‘The main thing for us is to stay mentally strong and focused on the games. When the final comes we’ll get to it. We’ll just worry about the next two games before that.
‘It was a good three points on Friday night. We started strong and got three good goals. It was a tough battle and in the end we defended well.
‘After the third goal went in, we thought it would be goodnight. But Aberdeen are obviously top team, second in the table, and they put up a good fight. They tested us but we did well, defended well.
‘The way they played was more direct. They played to the big man and the target man.
‘So to show our capabilities in defence is massive.’