PLENTY IN RESERVE
Leg-weary Celts need three super subs to fend off Hibs fightback in Hampden thriller
BRENDAN RODGERS last night hailed the physical and mental fortitude of his leg-weary team after Celtic secured a third cup final appearance in 12 months.
The Hoops boss admitted his players had been left tired by their Champions League exertions against Bayern Munich in midweek but chose to make just two changes for yesterday’s semi-final against Hibs.
Two first-half goals from Mikael Lustig put Celtic on the front foot but Rodgers admitted it was the introduction of his three subs, most specifically double goalscorer Moussa Dembele, that got his team over the line in the face of a stirring Hibs fightback.
He said: ‘It was a brilliant result after the exertions and travel of midweek.
‘There was a bit of fatigue but that was only natural. I tip my hat to the players because, as a lot of people would have thought, it could have been a real banana skin. The substitutes were important.’
Dembele had previously only scored one goal this season, a symptom of his enduring hamstring problems rather than any deficiencies in his form. With Griffiths
looking tired after a hectic schedule for Celtic and Scotland, the Frenchman may be in line for a start against Aberdeen in midweek. ‘Moussa was probably disappointed in the changing room afterwards, because he thought he could have got that third one,’ Rodgers added. ‘He is getting there game by game and his finishes were exceptional. Leigh has run himself into the ground and then you need to occupy the Hibs defensive line by having that threat. We will recover and be ready to go again. We will study Aberdeen and pick what we think is the best team.’ There was debate between the two managers about the legitimacy of the penalty, converted by Anthony Stokes, which drew Hibs back into the contest after half-time. In common with referee Kevin Clancy, Lennon felt winger Martin Boyle had been tripped by Dedryck Boyata, while Rodgers thought his player took the ball. ‘Any coach or manager will tell you that, particularly in the showpiece games, you don’t want a decision to go against you because you don’t get the chance to come back again,’ said Rodgers. ‘There are two poor decisions. One from the referee who is on his way back and the linesman who is facing it — how he gave the penalty I will never know.’ Lennon had no quibbles with his players’ overall performance but admitted the defensive mistakes at Lustig’s goals had undone the good work of the first half. The Hibs boss admitted sub Boyle might have started had he not been suffering the after-effects of an unspecified personal issue. ‘The changes were tactical,’ he said. ‘We were 2-0 down and it’s a cup tie, the point of no return. ‘Martin has had a difficult week privately, so we had to concern ourselves with his state of mind. Steven (Whittaker) wasn’t fit to start, but they made a difference.’ Although Dembele extended Celtic’s lead to 3-1, Hibs got another back through teenager Oli Shaw, another substitute. ‘Young Shaw came on and got us back in the game. I would rather lose 4-2 going for it than let the game peter out 3-2,’ added Lennon.