Immortals

Brendan urges team to honour Lions

a brilliant job. It would be fitting if we honour them by our achievements on the park. If you look at how they played – the creativity, togetherness, spirit and behaviour – it’s fitting of the team and how we’ve played.” As Rodgers searches for little motivational nuggets to use on his team against Hearts today and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final next week – he revealed that he has already used the Lions’ story. He said: “I mentioned it earlier this season. I went to a tribute to the Lions and some of the guys were there. “It was inspiring and I said that to the players. I hope they have taken inspiration from it. “Against Partick Thistle on Friday night we still looked as fit, strong and aggressive in our 57th game as we did in our first. And we’re better now, we’ve improved. “Of course, I’ll have to find some motivational tool in the next week. “I will say some words and you’re always trying to hook the players emotionally. They’re competitors and you must try to harness their emotional strength. “You have to find the words and actions to allow them to achieve.” Even the Lisbon Lions didn’t manage to go through a full campaign unbeaten. So if Celtic avoid defeat to Hearts at Parkhead today, he’s well aware of what a remarkable feat it will be. Rodgers said: “It will be the first one since 1898 when I believe players were still playing with caps on. “Any manager will tell you about the extremes and difficulties you face in a season, the psychological twists and turns that take place. “So to go through it, having equalled the record of 33 wins and four draws, it would be fantastic. “In front of 60,000 people on Sunday we’ll be as intense and aggressive as we’ve been all season. “Arsenal did it in 2004 and I’ve been lucky to work with Ashley Cole and Kole Toure who were part of that. “Knowing them gives you a feeling of what is needed to go through a season unbeaten. “It’s about facing challenges and responding. Thankfully the players here have responded to how I wanted them to play “I’ve tried to energise, engage, motivate, get them to commit to something. It’s about the happiness you can bring to supporters. “That’s the biggest thing or me. It’s the feeling you give people. That’s what you should aspire to as a manager.” Celtic partied on the pitch after winning the title at Tynecastle seven weeks ago.

And Rory Currie wants payback at Parkhead today when Hearts have another unwanted invite to a Hoops hoedown as they hoist the league trophy aloft.

The teenage striker says he will use the misery of last month’s experience as motivation.

Currie, 19, said: “We were devastated – it wasn’t a good feeling.

“You have to make it motivate you to go out and try to get better results so that hopefully we’re the ones lifting the cup next year.

“Clearly it’s massive for Celtic, going through the season unbeaten.

“But we have to try our hardest to make that not happen – it would be massive for us if we became the ones to stop it.

“That’s all that’s on our mind going there. We’ll just forget about the trophy they’ll be lifting at the end.”

Cur rie has made an impression off the bench for Ian Cathro in the second half of the term. He could even get the nod today and Currie said: “It would be brilliant.

“The season has been great so far. I only joined the team as an Under-20s player at the start of the season and I’ve broken through to the team so it has been good.

“But now I’m there I need to keep improving.”

Cathro could do worse than let some fresh blood loose on Celtic, considering their recent slide in form.

The Hearts boss said: “I’m sure Celtic have a wellorchestrated plan and we just happen to be there to kick a ball.

“It’s not going to be an enjoyable thing for us. We must be ready to compete and respect ourselves.

“They won the league at Tynecastle and we feel there’s a lot of these moments where people enjoy themselves against us.

“That’s not very enjoyable – but we need to find our own motivations.”