Brendan Rodgers insists he welcomes the challenge from unbeaten Aberdeen ahead of their mouth-watering Hampden clash this evening.
The Celtic manager’s flawless record of 11 wins from 11 visits to the national stadium for semi-finals and finals over his two spells at Parkhead means he can, of course, approach the game in confident mood.
Rodgers, though, is more than happy to acknowledge and even welcome the renewed challenge to Celtic’s domestic hegemony currently being posed by Jimmy Thelin’s vibrant Aberdeen side.
‘I think it is brilliant,’ said Rodgers as he prepared for this evening’s intriguing Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
‘Whether it is football or whether it is business, any competition is healthy and it’s what makes you better.
Jimmy Thelin and Brendan Rodgers will go head-to-head this weekend at Hampden
Their respective sides played out a thrilling 2-2 at Celtic Park earlier this month
Rodgers is hoping to hand the Dons a first defeat of the season this evening
‘You will always drive your own standards and your own standard of performance, absolutely. But competition is really, really healthy and can keep moving you forward.
‘Aberdeen are up there fighting and everyone will expect Rangers to be there at some point. There will be other teams, the big clubs from Edinburgh, who will feel they want to be up there challenging as well.
‘So I think the more competitive it is, that can improve you.’
While Thelin’s transformation of Aberdeen has been startling for many observers, Rodgers believes the Pittodrie club are simply in the kind of position he has always associated them with. ‘I am not surprised by their form this season,’ he insisted.
‘It’s a great credit to them, they have played with great consistency in their first ten league games and have really good players.
‘Jimmy has done a fantastic job and he has good coaching staff behind the scenes too.
‘But I always expect Aberdeen to be up there after my first time here. In Derek McInnes’ time in charge, he had a great period and so to see them up there is not a surprise. They are playing and performing very well.’
If Aberdeen’s 2-1 win over Rangers at Pittodrie on Wednesday was a statement result for Thelin, it was their recovery from a 2-0 half-time deficit to claim a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park two weeks ago which most sharply indicated they can be genuine contenders under the Swedish coach.
Nicky Devlin got on the scoresheet in Wednesday’s huge victory over Rangers at Pittodrie
‘Yeah, that is a warning to us,’ added Rodgers. ‘But I’m clear it’s a game we should have won. We were 2-0 up and had other chances. We then got punished for our slackness in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
‘Whether that was because it was just after half-time or not, I don’t know. But it wasn’t at the standard we expect and would want.
‘If you do that against technical players who can run in behind, then that can hurt you.
‘That has to be a learning for us and it will be. But we also know that we need to play very well to reach the final.
‘It’s just about ensuring you stay calm in your approach.
‘It’s about that balance between being super-aggressive when you haven’t got the ball, showing that hunger to get it and being defensively organised.
‘And then play with calmness and speed when you have the ball. That’s something we have always preached.
‘Leading into this one, both teams have had a midweek game. Our concentration was on Dundee and then we flipped quickly on to this one.
‘It’s been very focused. Every game is a big game for us, so the mantra this week isn’t different.’
Callum McGregor is expected to feature for Celtic after missing last two games through injury
Rodgers is relishing the prospect of another trip to Hampden. It has become a familiar and consistently rewarding experience but not one he ever takes for granted.
‘It’s been a great joy to go there but I’ve always treated it like it’s my first time,’ he said ‘That’s always been my mindset.
‘It’s great going there and seeing half the stadium full of Celtic supporters and with either the opportunity to win a final or get to a final. It will be no different this time.’
One slight difference is that Celtic do not go into the match as cup holders under Rodgers, having been knocked out of the competition in the second round by Kilmarnock during a difficult first half of last season.
It provides an added incentive to reclaim the famous three-handled trophy which brought Rodgers his first major honour as Celtic manager when they defeated Aberdeen 3-0 in the 2016-17 final.
Adam Idah is also in contention for a starting spot up in today’s semi-final clash
‘It certainly gives us hunger because we missed out on it last season,’ he agreed. ‘But we are in a far different place to last year.
‘Our hunger is there to reach the first final of the season. We were really disappointed last year when we weren’t up to challenge for it. But we are for this one.
‘Winning it for the first time was brilliant, a great feeling. We played ever so well in that final, so I think it gave the supporters a little bit of trust in me, that I was here to win and that we could win.
‘It was one that eluded us last year and that didn’t sit comfortably with us.’
With Callum McGregor and Adam Idah fit to return, Rodgers has plenty of options to consider ahead of kick-off.
‘I’ve got a few decisions to make in terms of the team,’ he said. ‘I think all the players have value in playing. Every player could.
‘A lot of the guys that have been playing recently have been showing great value in how they have been playing and how they have been performing.
‘There will be a role for them all at some point. Sentiment doesn’t come into it. I need to pick what I feel is the best team to win this game and I will do that.’
