Rodgers tells team to enjoy Hampden pressure

BRENDAN Rodgers has told his players to embrace the pressure and relish the chance to continue Celtic’s recent impressive form at Hampden.

Rodgers is back at the national stadium as manager today for the first time since winning the League Cup final there in December 2018 with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen, who Celtic face in the Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend.

The Northern Irishman enjoyed nine wins at Hampden during his first spell in charge at Celtic – he also led his side to a Murrayfield semi-final win over Hearts – before his perfect domestic cup record in Scotland ended at the first hurdle this season at Kilmarnock.

Rodgers was installed first time round soon after Celtic suffered defeat to Championship Rangers in the 2016 Scottish Cup semifinals and the Hoops won 11 of the 15 major finals since.

“When you come to a club like this, there’s an expectation to win,” he said. “The feeling is much greater now than when I was first here.

“I felt, leading into that first League Cup semi-final, there was a wee bit of trepidation around playing at Hampden.

“But if you’re going to become winners, we’ve got to start enjoying it. You enjoy it by playing well and winning.

“Of course, there’s big anticipation around them and there’s big pressure. But go and embrace that and look to perform.

“But in the end, any time I’ve won there, I’ve always felt the team has performed to a really high level.

“So, same message. We go there, we respect Aberdeen. It’s not been a great season for them in terms of the league and changes of management, but any semi is a tough game and we’re ready.”

Brendan Rodgers.