I’ll never have better feeling in game than winning Treble with my pal Kieran and all these superb players
Paddy made sure Tierney was included in fans’ celebrations
CELTIC fans shrugged off their hangovers – trebles all round – to salute their Invincibles yesterday morning.
One of the most absorbing Scottish Cup Finals of recent history ended with Tom Rogic’s dramatic winner sealing our game’s grand slam for the fourth time in the history of the Hoops.
Brendan Rodgers has led his side on a 47-game unbeaten run in domestic football and the Parkhead punters are queueing up to hail their achievements. Predictably, several callers, you suspect with an Ibrox allegiance, are wondering what all the fuss is about.
Craig Gordon, Ayr, said: “You’ll hear jealous fans of the smaller clubs like Hearts and Rangers putting this magnificent achievement down. But this is the second best team in Scottish history, 50 years on from the Lisbon Lions. Hail the Treble Invincibles.”
Pat Thompson, Glasgow, said: “Aberdeen tried their best to be party poopers and gave Celtic their hardest game of the season. What a match. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the result.”
Brian Connor emailed: “Give respect where it’s due. Invincibility with humbleness – Brendan Rodgers, well done.” Christopher Currie, Stevenston, said: “Congratulations to Celtic on what has been an outstanding season and to win the Treble the year Rangers were coming back up to challenge for the title makes it even sweeter.” Iain Cunningham, Newcastle, said: “I’m a Celtic supporter and at least one team is taking the game to the Hoops and making Celtic fight for a win.” Tim Gibbens emailed: “Kieran Tierney should have no worries if he uses the same dentist as Brendan Rodgers – and his impressive dash to the Scottish Cup presentation shows he doesn’t go to Joe Garner for hospital recommendations.” Michael Emonds emailed: “On August 15 Mal Carruthers asked, ‘What planet does Chris Sutton live on? It’s nonsense to say Celtic are miles ahead of Rangers. We’ll see where the teams are at the end of the season.’ Now 39 points ahead, three cups and unbeaten domestically I’d say Chris was spot on.”
Alan Simpson, Wishaw, said: “I’m backing this Celtic side to achieve next season what no other Scottish club has – win back-to-back Trebles and make the last eight of the Champions League.”
Jamie McNeill, Bargeddie, said: “Tom Rogic could be forgiven for hating the sight of that goal at the Celtic end after last season’s Scottish Cup semifinal but what a run and finish in the last minute.”
The Hotline being the Hotline, not every caller was in a rush to embrace the achievements of Celtic.
Lee Griffen, North Wales, said: “Congratulations to Celtic on an unbeaten domestic season. The next aim is to become the most successful team in your own city, given that Rangers are the world-record holders for league titles.”
John Scott, Grassmoor, said: “Jayden Stockley has been demonised for his flying arm but what about Scott Brown? He was seen stamping on the inner thigh of Jonny Hayes. It was picked up on commentary but has not been highlighted in the press. What’s the story?”
Ian Loudon emailed: “Tierney bites his lip and there’s a 10-minute discussion on it by Liam McLeod on the BBC. Brown stamps on Hayes and not a cheep from the most biased commentator I’ve ever heard.”
Alan Todd, Glenrothes, said: “No offence Celtic but Rangers won their fourth treble so long ago that Boney M were No.1 in the charts.”
George Kelly emailed: “Do you think for one minute Celtic would have won anything if Rangers hadn’t been stabbed in the back by all the clubs in Scotland? Of course they wouldn’t.”
PATRICK ROBERTS is destined for the top in football but says no matter where he goes or what he does from now on he will never better being a Treble-winning Invincible.
The 20-year-old understands the significance of what he has been part of and realises he’s now a legend. His name woven into the fabric of a famous football club forever.
Roberts knew when he signed on loan from Manchester City 18 months ago that he’d get the chance to win some silverware and play in some big games.
Champions League outings were a bonus but to be a member of just the fourth Celtic side to win a Treble and the first to go through an entire domestic campaign unbeaten was not something he could have bargained for.
Roberts wasn’t swept away by emotion in the bowels of Hampden afterwards. He was calm. He was taking it all in.
He understood that he had just set a benchmark he would never again reach and accepted that, regardless of what happens in his career, he had just savoured his highlight.
Roberts said: “I don’t know if I’ll ever play for a team who can go a whole season unbeaten. Invincible.
“So when I look back on my career, this will be the biggest highlight. My biggest accomplishment in the game.
“It’s good to get that so young, although I hopefully have a big career ahead of me. I’ve been given the chance to play in truly massive games, to win trophies and win titles. It’s more than I could have asked for.
“Celtic took me when I was only 19. To go on loan at a club like this is massive. Experience is crucial these days, especially for young players. And that’s what I’ve got here.
“If you’ve played in big games managers know they can trust you which is important.
“So coming to Celtic and winning four medals is very big. I can take that into the rest of my career.”
Roberts has bought into the entire Celtic vibe and built friendships which will last forever no matter where he goes in the future. And no one has been closer to him in Glasgow than his big buddy Kieran Tierney.
The pair have forged an unbreakable bond and, when he thought his pal was going to miss out on the celebrations at Hampden as he was having medical attention on a facial injury, Roberts asked for a Tierney jersey to wear.
The winger held the shirt in front of the fans which the full-back’s parents noted and waved down to him in thanks.
In the end, Tierney made it out for the celebrations and Roberts said: “Kieran wasn’t really up to talking but he was back there in the dressing room, enjoying the celebrations with all the lads.
“I’m glad he got there for that. I thought he was going to miss the trophy presentation, which was why I put his shirt on. I couldn’t see him around but his ugly face popping up to cheer up the fans was some sight.
“I thought it was only right to get his shirt out if he wasn’t going to make it – the fans love him to bits. He’s Mr Celtic.
“When he did turn up, there was more anger than joy when he picked up the trophy! I haven’t looked back at it but he got an elbow to the face and his teeth were, well, minging when I looked at him.
“Then we found out he has broken his jaw, so I’m sure that will be sore for a couple of weeks.
“I just think he was angry because he couldn’t take part in the rest of the game but we won and he’s a part of that.
“I’m delighted for him because he was born into this club.
“To win a Treble and go a whole season Invincible at the club he supports, it’s massive to him.”
Roberts will miss Tierney when he leaves and Celtic will miss him. Teasingly, when asked about his farewell, he said “if ” he goes. The winger’s exact words were: “If it is a goodbye, it will be a tough goodbye.”
When pressed on that choice of phrase, he jinked as he does when fronted-up by full-backs and added: “I’m not going to say anything in case you read into it.”
Whether that’s an indicator on the future can’t be an issue until City make a decision on whether or not they want Roberts to stay. But, for the time being, it was about what had just happened and not what happens next.
Roberts said: “I was confident we could win the Scottish Cup and secure the Treble. It’s a tough achievement. To do it next year will be tough but I’m sure this Celtic team have the ability.
“I felt we could do something special, that we could come here and win the trophy. The lads are doing well out there anyway so they don’t need me!
“Aberdeen are a good side. We’ve had a few games with them and they’ve been dominant at times, tough to break down.
“I think they showed a cup final mentality, that all form goes out of the window.
“They showed real quality as well and we had to match that first. Thankfully we did and Tom Rogic scored an unbelievable goal. I think the thousand shots Leigh Griffiths had were making me think it wouldn’t be our day!
“Seriously, when I hit the post, I was thinking that on another day it would have gone in. It was a tremendous save from the keeper actually. And then Tom got us out of there.
“It’s credit to the manager. We’ve been losing games this season at half-time but always managed to get back into the game and score goals.
“He has brought a philosophy into the club and we haven’t panicked all season.”