OLD FIRM
SEMI-FINAL SPECIAL
PATRICK ROBERTS helped cure Emerson Hyndman’s homesickness when the Texan kid landed a long way from home in London six years ago. Today, he plans to send his former Fulham friend’s last hopes of securing silverware during his loan spell at Rangers packing when the pair clash at Hampden.
Moving to England was tough for the teenage midfielder attending Coombe Boys’ School with his Fulham academy team-mates.
Hyndman was in need of caring colleagues and he found one in Roberts, with whom he went on to reach an FA Youth Cup Final three years later.
Roberts was also happy to offer guide tips to Glasgow when Hyndman moved from Bournemouth to the opposite side of the city in January.
Now, with a William Hill Scottish Cup Final place on the line in Old Firm combat, there will be no place for sentimentality.
‘Emo is a good friend of mine,’ said Manchester City star Roberts, who also counts Celtic striker Moussa Dembele as an ex-Fulham youth pal.
‘He was only young when he came across to join Fulham. We used to share a car to training and we struck up a good friendship.
‘As a young American boy, he didn’t know much about England. I showed him what it was like and tried to make him feel at home.
‘We went to the same school just over the road from Fulham. There was a programme where all the boys at the club went to the same school.
‘I guess it was a bit of a riot! We trained in the morning and went to school in the afternoon, or vice-versa. Emo was part of that.
‘We were in Year Ten together. I was about 15 at the time. I even passed all my exams, Maths, English and Science.
‘I was quite good at Maths and did well in the end. I have spoken to Emo but we haven’t had a chance to meet up much since he came up here.
‘He asked me all about Glasgow. I told him what there was to do. He is a great lad and a fantastic player. But once we get on the pitch it will be different.’
Roberts is supremely confident that Celtic’s approach to this year’s semi-final will be totally different compared to 12 months ago.
Then, Rangers carried a selfassured look against a Ronny Deila team that lacked the swagger normally associated with a team of champions playing against lower-league opponents. Roberts admits that Brendan Rodgers’ Scottish Cup Final hopefuls are in marked contrast to those who approached the last-four test exactly a year ago.
‘We’ll be going in with a team that is mentally different,’ noted the 20-year-old winger.
‘Physically and performance-wise things have been brilliant. There is more confidence and belief than last year.
‘It’s a completely different team. We’ve been on a good run of form. With the new manager coming in and changing things around you can say it’s a new team a year on.
‘I wouldn’t say we had doubts last year, but we’re just more dominant and confident now and that’s shown in our results. It’s such a big factor in football, confidence.
‘You feel like you can take on anyone in any game. That’s how it feels just now. We’re in the best shape possible. Now we have to try and get the best possible result.’
If confidence levels were a factor in Celtic failing to finish off Rangers in last term’s clash, then Roberts was guilty when his composure went to pieces at one critical moment.
The £10million man is remembered for missing an open-goal, hitting the ball off the side-netting when it looked far simpler to convert on the rebound from a Leigh Griffiths shot.
Initially haunted — and taunted — by the experience, Roberts showed a maturity beyond his years by stepping into the spotlight to discuss the horror moment immediately after the game. A fortnight later, he insists he was free from the nightmare.
‘You feel horrible,’ he said. ‘Anyone who played in that game will tell you that.
‘Especially to go out on penalties the way we did. It’s something we don’t want to happen again. I’m the sort of player, though, I don’t really let it faze me. I’m quite calm.
‘I know football’s a tough sport with the media interest and all that these days so it can get to you. They are massive games, it was a semifinal. But you have to look at the brighter side — it can happen to anyone.
‘Obviously it was a big game, but it goes out of my mind a couple of weeks later.
‘The game’s gone and the good thing is there’s a game after it, so you just get up and go again next time. I got a bit of stick from the boys and from my brother — but that’s just banter, really. So 12 months on, hopefully it doesn’t happen again! We should be confident though. This game should be different.’
If Celtic do edge past their Old Firm opponents today, Roberts admits he is in the dark as to whether he will be available to play in next month’s William Hill Scottish Cup Final.
The on-loan winger will be wanted by the English FA to represent the national Under-20 side at the World Cup Finals in South Korea.
Paul Simpson’s young stars have been drawn to play Argentina, Guinea and the host country in the group stage between May 20 and May 26 — the eve of the Hampden showpiece.
Last year, Roberts was clear about his ambitions to help Celtic advance through the Champions League qualifying stages in preference to representing his country.
He forfeited the opportunity to play in the European Under-19 Championship in Germany, where England reached the semi-finals.
This year’s schedule clash between club and country means that Celtic and the FA will speak again about Roberts.
When asked if he would be staying in Glasgow to help Celtic land the last leg of the Treble in the event of beating Rangers today, Roberts said: ‘I’m not sure yet. But whatever I have to do, I’ll do my best. It starts in the middle of May, which is still during the season. It’s a World Cup so they want their best players available.
‘But they also know a lot of the boys will have big games for their clubs around them as well, so it’s a bit up in the air. But I’ll just play my football.
‘Whoever it’s for, I’ll be giving my best and enjoying it.’