Mac the Knife sees no repeat to Celts’ epic run in cup ties
The last manager to inflict a League Cup defeat on Celtic insists the club’s remarkable run in domestic knock-out competition will never be repeated.
Neil Lennon’s Hoops, who entertain Ross County in the competition’s last 16 today, boast a 35-game winning sequence across the country’s two cup competitions.
That hasn’t been enough to appease a section of their support, with the club’s ultras wing, the Green Brigade, demonstrating outside Celtic Park last Wednesday, calling for their manager to go.
Jim Mcintyre, who masterminded the Highlanders’ 3-1 victory in the semi-final of the 2015-16 League Cup campaign, says fans are in danger of underestimating just what an achievement that is.
“It is an incredible run,” he said.
“To have gone for four years sweeping all before them in the cups the way they have is an amazing thing.
“I think it is a bit of history in the making because I can’t see it ever happening again. I really can’t.
“It is different in the league, where you can lose a game and bounce back.
“But in the cups, one bad result and that is it – bang, you are out.
“To show the level of focus and consistency where you come out on top each and every time takes a huge effort from Celtic’s management and players alike.
“Brendan Rodgers got them off to a great start with the “Invincibles” season in 2016-17, and carried on in much the same vein.
“Then, after he left last year, Neil Lennon took up the mantle and it has been business as usual in the domestic cup competitions ever since.
“It is so impressive.”
Not that Mcintyre, whose hopes of getting back into management have been set back by the effects on football of the Covid-19 pandemic, rules out the chance of the current Ross County side pulling off an upset.
“As good as Celtic are, as good as their cup record is, every single time they play a tie there is a chance that will be the day the run gets halted,” he said.
“That is the way knock-out football is. It is the reason we all love it.
“What I would say is I think it will take a repeat of the set of circumstances we had in 2016 – or similar – for anyone to put them out.”
Four years ago, in what was a massive upset, County striker Alex Schalk drew a foul from Efe Ambrose that earned his side both a penalty and a man advantage.
“Ambrose being sent-off was the key moment in the game, no doubt about it,” admitted Mcintyre.
“That gave us the platform to really go for it which, of course, paid off.
“Even then, we had to take the chances which came our way, and keep the 10 men out with Scott Fox saving a penalty from Leigh Griffiths.
“It all went right for us, and we got a fantastic result.
“It gave us the platform to go on and win the club’s first major piece of silverware.
“That win over Celtic, and the success against Hibs in the Final, showed what is possible.
“But I think whoever finally stops Celtic will have to really earn their success.”