Hazard blocks out history as he makes vital saves in shootout
Celtic goal keeper Con or Hazard refused to be weighed down by history in proving the inspiration for the club’s Scottish Cup win that sealed a world-first quadruple treble.
And the 22-year-old Irishman had the perfect summation of a seesaw encounter for both him and his team by declaring the 4-3 penalty shootout triumph that followed a 3-3 draw with Hearts“a crazy afternoon but a great afternoon and a momentous day for my family and the club.”
Celtic’ sun precedented monopoly of domestic honours across four-and-ahalf years ultimately boiled down to a goalkeeper in only his third senior outing for the club saving penalties from Stephen Kingsley, pictured above, and Craig Wighton.
He was able to zone in on pulling off these feats because he blocked out what rested on doing so, and blocked out erratic moments that had made the final a stern examination for him.
“You can' t think about all the history and the fact there is another trophy on the line,” Hazard said.
“You just have to focus on the penalties and try to make as many saves as possible.
"You just have to take each phase of the game as it comes. In a sho otout all the pressure is on the taker to score so I was thrilled to make two saves.
"You’ ve got to make the striker think.
"It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, what’s happened in the last couple of weeks but just to be a part of this momentous achievement is a huge honour for me.”
Hazard ripped up the script in being the keeper that produced the big moments in the shoot out when plenty felt it was fated that his opposite number Craig Gordon would be the man to do so against a team he only left in the summer following a trophy-laden six-year stint.
The shoot out was not a time for Hazard and a former mentor to indulge in conversation.
“There wasn’t much chat at the start,” said the Northern Ireland under-21 international.
“Craig was a big factor for me when I first came to the club – he took me under his wing.
"It’ s commiserations to him but I’m just delighted for the club.”