BASE CHAMP
Hoops gaffer conquered Hampden hoodoo now he wants glory return to kickstart second spell
BRENDAN RODGERS admits it felt like there was a hoodoo around Hampden when he arrived for his first spell as Celtic boss.
Now the National Stadium feels like a home from home.
The Hoops boss is gearing up for his 10th visit to Mount Florida and having banished those south side sweats in the famous Invincible Treble campaign, he has yet to taste defeat on the hallowed turf.
Rodgers takes pride in the immaculate record and has no intention of surrendering it in today’s lunchtime Scottish Cup semi showdown with Aberdeen.
Hampden has a special place in the Irishman’s heart – but it didn’t always feel that way.
When Rodgers rolled into town in the summer of 2016, the Old Lady hadn’t always been kind to Celtic. There are cup wins in there but there had also been the Scottish Cup last four defeat to Mark Warburton’s Rangers, the Inverness Caley Thistle loss, previous sore ones against Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Ross County.
The talk back then was Hampden being a problem place for the Hoops – until Rodgers practically set up camp there.
The Parkhead gaffer said: “It’s nice to know that (the record) and hopefully it continues.
“I just sensed a wee bit of trepidation around it when I first came in, with the players and even staff, from everything that had happened for the team there.
“I felt it leading into that first League Cup semi-final (a 1-0 win over Rangers). But if you’re going to become winners then you have to start enjoying it.
“You enjoy it by playing well and winning. So that has always been my focus getting to these games – looking to perform.
“There’s big anticipation around them and there’s big pressure. But go and embrace that and look to perform.
“In the end, any time I’ve won there, I’ve always felt the team really performed to a really high level, on a technical level and tactical level. So it’s the same message.
“After that first season, we started to enjoy it. And most importantly the supporters went and had that expectation of winning. That’s what success should look like.
“That expectation, going and playing – you look forward to it and see where it takes you. We go there, we respect Aberdeen. It’s not been a great season for them in terms of league and changes of management but any semi is a tough game and we’re ready for it.
“I’ve loved all the games there. The semi-finals have been great atmospheres, the finals – there’s that edge on it to get your hand on the trophy.
“To win that first League Cup in that first season was so special. To then go onto the Scottish Cup Final, I’ve got so many memories of that having grown up with it as a child and knowing what it means to this club and always with ambition to add to the trophy haul.
“So I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve missed it this year as I’ve not had the chance to go with Celtic.”
Rodgers has plenty of Hampden memories but he’s
I’ve loved the times at Hampden, playing in those games. Every time I’ve been there. BRENDAN RODGERS on national stadium
with his former skipper Scott Brown when it comes to the pick of the bunch.
Tom Rogic clinching the Invincible Treble with his lastminute winner against the Dons will take some beating.
He said: “You’ll never forget that – the scenes after it. It was a really nerve-racking final.
‘We’d obviously not got off to a great start and then we came back into the game.
“The game ebbed and flowed. In that final half hour it looked like we were the ones who were going to score.
“We kept pushing and obviously Derek McInnes’ team kept fighting and held us out.
“Then Tom’s moment of magic won the game. All the scenes, with Craig (Gordon) on his knees, it was such an incredible feeling. I’ve loved the times at Hampden, playing in those games. Every time I’ve been there. I’ve loved the atmosphere.”
Rodgers gets a kick out of going back to Hampden but also from the recent form and turn of events that have put his Hoops side in pole position to win the Premiership.
However, the Celtic boss wants his men to ignore what is happening elsewhere with rivals Rangers and focus on their own displays and tapping into the momentum that has been built over the last month.
Rodgers said: “Clearly, it helps. We have had a sort of inconsistent period, especially in the first six months or so, but I could see the reasons why that might be.
“I always maintained that once we had key players back playing, the football will smile much more. And that’s how it has been, we have been good in the games.
“I still strive for more consistency in the team, that’s something I spoke to the players about earlier in the week.
“We had a really good performance, it maybe felt for some like a run-of-the-mill 3-0 victory but St Mirren have proved to be really difficult opponents, super-organised with Stephen Robinson and his staff.
“So that was a really impressive scoreline and the players did really well, kept that calmness but also looking to play how we want to play. Momentum is important and we want to keep that going.” Rodgers won’t dismiss Aberdeen either, despite the multitude of problems the Dons have faced this season. He said: “Any team that gets to the semi-final is there with an opportunity to get to the final. I envisage Peter Leven and his team will look to take the opportunity. Our focus is on ourselves, looking at our own performance. “Our training this week, the intensity and the whole mentality and feel, has been really good. So now we’ve got to take that into the game.”