Parkhead boss wants to raise performance level
CELTIC manager Brendan Rodgers wants an upturn in performance level but the same spirit which dragged them through at Hampden.
The Scottish Gas Scottish Cup holders came from behind against Aberdeen last weekend before eventually succeeding on penalties after conceding last-gasp equalisers in 90 minutes and extra-time.
Having booked a return trip to Mount Florida to take on Rangers in the final, Celtic now turn their attentions to the cinch Premiership title race as they go into the post-split fixtures with a three-point lead over their rivals.
Speaking ahead of today’s trip to Dundee, Rodgers said: “I think it was a really good feeling to get through. The standard of our performance wasn’t what I would have liked. But there are times in life when it’s really important to overcome situations and obviously we achieved the goal, which was to get to the final. But we also had to overcome lots within the game. So the players did absolutely brilliantly to get through that and show that nerve and mindset at the very end.
“Now we see ourselves in the final, which is great. But now we’ve got to shift the mindset to the league and that’s where our concentration is.”
The state of the Dens Park pitch has been one of Scottish football’s main topics in recent weeks, with five postponements and much debate over whether there would be another.
A rare period of dry weather will ensure there are no doubts about today’s game but with large areas of the pitch covered in sand, the surface might not be ideal for Celtic’s players.
However, Rodgers is not thinking about the pitch as he considers his selection and game plan.
“Not really,” he said. “I watched some of the Rangers game and I thought the pitch needed a bit of water, to be fair!
“I have to say in all the time over two spells I’ve been [in games] at Dundee, the pitch has always been in a really good place.
“I went up there earlier in the season for Cammy Kerr’s testimonial game, around September time, and it was slightly slippery. But I don’t have worries, the weather has been good and if it needs a bit of water, they can stick a bit on there.”