TREBLE TOPS
Rodgers’ joy as Celtic clinch place in history Boss had warned unbeaten stars not to fall at last hurdle
BRENDAN RODGERS praised Celtic’s Scottish Cup heroes for heeding his pre-match warning not to duck their one and only chance to make unbeaten Treble-winning history.
Rodgers, who joined Jock Stein and Martin O’Neill in clinching a domestic clean sweep of trophies, revealed he cut short a training session for the first time at the club on Thursday.
He was fearful the week of celebrations for their own Invincibles achievement in the league and commemorating the Lisbon Lions 50th anniversary had impacted on the mood or deflected some focus.
After Tom Rogic’s injury-time goal defeated Aberdeen 2-1, Rodgers (right) said: ‘Maybe there was something floating around in their minds about how we had won the league.
‘Maybe there was a wee celebratory feeling. But the session was cut short. I walked in.
‘That’s not how we work. So we set a standard right at the beginning that has only fallen short in one training session all season. The standard and quality wasn’t good enough of what we demand.
‘What I’ve tried to bring in is a growth mindset in terms of never being satisfied. I said to them before the game we’ve celebrated being unbeaten in the league. People are writing all about history.
‘On Thursday, we celebrated the great Lisbon Lions and what they achieved back in 1967. But today we had to make it. No one would be writing about it if we didn’t do it.
‘The players showed remarkable courage to get the result. That’s now 47 domestic games (unbeaten) — an incredible achievement.’ Matching managerial legends of the club with Celtic’s fourth Treble was ‘a huge honour’ for Rodgers, who added: ‘Jock was a real pioneer and led the club the way he wanted it to go. Martin did an incredible job here. History will judge me. I’ve only just begun, really.’ Rodgers reported that Kieran Tierney, replaced in the first half after suffering a facial injury, ‘probably needs an operation’ that makes him a doubt for Scotland duty.