Celtic booked their place in this year’s Scottish Cup final at the weekend in a fashion that couldn’t have been more dramatic.

After a 3-3 draw within 120 minutes, the Hoops eventually beat Aberdeen on penalty kicks.

It was a stomach-churning afternoon for supporters and the final against Rangers on the 25th of May will likely be even more nervy.

The Bhoys will want to retain the Cup that they won against Inverness last year in a dominant 3-1 win.

Before that game, Celtic fans met in Glasgow Green before marching to Hampden in an event spearheaded by the Green Brigade.

The Ultras group yesterday teased the second coming of the rally on their official X page:

Although the league is now where the priority lies for Celtic, it is difficult to ignore the final that looms in the distance.

Because it is a Glasgow derby, the stakes will be even higher than usual as the Hoops take on their city rivals for what will be the fifth and final time of the season.

Darren O’Dea’s new Celtic role that will see him work alongside Brendan Rodgers

Celtic B team head coach Darren O’Dea has been promoted to the position of Professional Player Pathway Manager.

The highly-rated Irishman will move into the new role and be entrusted with developing the progression of young players at the club. The former Hoops defender, 37, will work closely with Brendan Rodgers and the Parkhead club’s academy coaches to help bridge the route between youth and first-team football.

O’Dea – who came through the ranks at Parkhead in 2006 – will also manage loan opportunities which support the player pathway and development opportunities. He said: “I am really looking forward to giving everything to this exciting new opportunity. Having been being fortunate enough to be part of a Celtic first-team environment in my career I am passionate about working to give other young players this same opportunity.

“In this new role, I will be working between our Academy structure and the first-team environment to ensure that we do all we can to provide the very best pathway and levels of support to allow our young players to reach their full potential and to ultimately deliver at first-team level.”

Brendan Rodgers said: “Celtic has such a rich history of creating and developing its own players and is something which I am hugely passionate about. This important new position will allow us to give real focus to ensuring the very best possible pathway and level of support to bringing our younger players successfully into the first-team environment, so they too can create their own history at the club.

“Darren has great experience in this area and he is the perfect candidate to work between our Academy and first team and I am sure his work will achieve very positive results for the club and our supporters.”

Chris McCart, Head of Celtic’s Youth Academy, added: “We are delighted that Darren has been appointed to this role, which we believe will be very important in preparing our young players and allowing them to flourish and ultimately be part of our first team.

“Darren has a huge knowledge of the club, our Academy and, of course, the first-team environment and so he is very well qualified to be managing this really important area of player progression. Everyone at the Club congratulates him on his new appointment.”

Simon Jordan’s bizarre Brendan Rodgers rant after Rangers hand Celtic title advantage

Rangers dropping points at Dundee has been met with some brilliant reaction from Celtic pundits.

We have already told how Chris Sutton gave his immediate thoughts on the Dens Park draw and shared John Hartson’s message to Celtic as Brendan Rodgers sit three points clear at the top of the table.

The Rangers manager is now under severe pressure heading into the Scottish Cup weekend but for Rodgers, he will still meticulously plan to get past Aberdeen and then prepare for Dundee the following week.

So the coverage and headlines are panning out just as you would expect this morning. Except one pundit bizarrely decided to have a go at the Celtic manager despite having nothing to do with last night’s result.

Simon Jordan brands Brendan Rodgers ‘lucky’ at Celtic

Simon Jordan is generally a fair and balanced pundit whenever it comes to talking about Scottish football.

I’ve covered his comments on a few occasions on 67 Hail Hail but this time, I simply cannot understand his reasoning behind these comments which are bordering on the bitter side by the outspoken pundit.

Jordan said [talkSPORT], “I wanted Rangers when this league this year because I’d like to see the two Scottish giants equally as strong as one another because it drags everybody else up.

“I don’t want the top pull down on what the bottom pulled up in, Scottish football. I want more money in Scottish football.

“I want the other teams in the pyramid to be better. I want this factory of young, Scottish players coming through that we saw that produced the Hansons, Souness’, the Danny McGrain’s and whoever else we want to talk about that have been great Scottish players over the years.

“I want to see another factory of that being produced and part that will be if the Scottish league is better funded.

“So part that will be if the two top-end Scottish teams are good in Europe and you’ve got a competitive league.

“So that’s been part of why I want Rangers to be successful. And the other part is because Brendan Rodgers has been irritating me recently  because I think he was a flake at Leicester and I think he’s been lucky at Celtic.”

Lucky. Where have we heard this kind of nonsense before? Winning a double treble and an extra League Cup and having an Invincibles season in your first season at Celtic is hardly luck.

That’s the mark of a manager who knows exactly what he is doing and plans meticulously for every Celtic game.

Rodgers has proven himself to be a professional operator at Celtic who knows how to deliver silverware and success. Admittedly, being successful at Celtic does require an element of luck and that is something any football manager will admit to.

But to suggest that he has been lucky overall is just very strange by Jordan and he comes across as a person who has a personal grudge on the man rather than on his ability as a football manager.

“Do they expect to win the league?” Tam McManus questions title chasers

It’s unquestionable that Ross County have put a major dent in theRangers hopes of winning the Scottish Premiership title this year. As we head towards the climax of this topsy-turvy campaign, one in which the Ibrox club were gifted a way back into by an off-form Celtic at points, it looks like the serial (or cereal if you prefer) bottlers have reverted to type under yet another manager.

A lot of revisionism has already begun and with lots more to follow if Brendan Rodgers greets the Celtic supporters with that Scottish Premiership trophy next month, like he said he would when he decided to come back home to Paradise following a chat with Dermot Desmond, nobody but nobody will mention how everybody in the mainstream media near enough had them as stick ons to win the League following the winter transfer window.

They scoffed when Adam Idah was drafted in from Norwich City and made it patently obvious that they were “coming for us”. That chat seems to have fallen by the wayside of late and with the enthusiasm draining from their team too now, excuses galore are coming from their manager and no doubt this will continue long into the summer if the Hoops bag another League and Cup Double.

Tam McManus has questioned the Ibrox club’s players yet again and asked whether or not they have the stomach for this sort of thing, pointing to the Champions plethora of experience and nous in this respect.

Speaking to PLZ Soccer, the former Hibs striker said: “It gives Celtic a massive advantage. They’ll know if they can beat theRangers at Parkhead they’ve all but won the title. It puts theRangers bang up against it. I thought Celtic were favourites because of the draw at Ibrox but I think they’re now big favourites to win the league.”

He said:”I think Celtic have got so many players and a manager that have been over the course and distance. James Tavernier and Connor Goldson, six years at theRangers and three trophies. Do they expect to win the league? I don’t think they do. I think Callum McGregors, James Forrests, they’ll be expecting to win it. I think that’s the big difference, I don’t think theRangers have got the bottle for it and I think that was proved yesterday. I just think Celtic have got that bit between the teeth now. I fancy Celtic to win every game from now until the end of the season and I won’t change my mind on that.”

‘Confident’ Idah loving life at Hoops as he looks to end season on a high

Celtic striker Adam Idah revealed he is now playing with more confidence and self-belief that at any point in his career as he looks to end the season on a high.

Since joining the Scottish champions on loan in January the Republic of Ireland international has scored some vital goals to boost the Hoops’ title challenge including his strike last weekend in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox and late match winning doubles against Hibs and Motherwell.

The 23-year-old striker has scored six goals in 11 appearances, five of which were off the bench, since the deadline-day move from Norwich.

If added to his seven or the Canaries, plus two for his country, in the first half of the season, it has been his best goal-scoring season to date with 15 in all competitions.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Mirren, he said: “It obviously helps any player scoring a goal, especially with confidence.

“I am really enjoying playing up here. It’s probably the most confident I have ever been. People can probably tell that when I am on the pitch and around the place, it’s probably the best I have played and you can tell by the goals.

“I have got a lot more minutes, the manager has a lot of trust in me, the lads got used to me and know my style of football.

“When people have that trust in you, and when that first goal comes, you do become confident in yourself. Even little things, like having the fans behind you, is huge. That helped me a lot and motivates me more to try and do better.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers enthused over the chance to work with Idah and develop his game following his loan move, and the powerful forward is reaping the benefits.

“There’s a lot of things that he does with me and the other attacking players in training that you can see I have brought into my game,” he said.

“He has helped me massively. When I first came in there were things we spoke about that he thought he could help me improve. Week by week I am doing that and I will try and repay him as much as the faith he has put in me. I think it’s been a really good connection.”

Idah expanded on the difference he has felt in himself since his move.

“Being that confident player is huge,” the Cork native said. “When I was back at Norwich, I wasn’t confident, I wasn’t getting minutes. It’s a difficult place to be in when you are not doing so well.

“I don’t think you feel like you are going to miss every chance, it’s more that if you do miss a chance, you think the world is ending, you feel everyone is on your back, you probably hear bad things more than you would if you were confident.

“It’s a difficult place to be but there is always a way out and, thankfully for me, coming up here has been great for me.

“So to come here and have everyone behind me, the staff, the fans, has been great for me. I am loving it.”

Rodgers is also enjoying having Idah in his squad and a permanent move could be a possibility in the summer, but neither were looking far ahead as Celtic go for glory in the league and Scottish Cup.

Idah said:

“I don’t know what’s going to happen yet. I haven’t thought about what’s next for me. I am enjoying my football now, I will try and finish the season on a high and who knows? We will see.”

Sutton Urges Celtic To Sign Adam Idah For What Would Be “An Absolute steal”

Former Celtic striker and now pundit Chris Sutton has urged his old team to make their move for Norwich loanee Adam Idah permanent.

The Irishman joined the Hoops at the tail end of the winter transfer window. Although many supporters had their reservations about his arrival, he has hit the ground running in Glasgow.

For the Hoops so far, Idah has made 11 appearances in all competitions, scoring six times and registering two assists in the process. He averages a goal contribution every 70 minutes in green and white.

There is no denying his instant impact and based on what he has seen of the 23-year-old along with the potential fee of a permanent deal, Sutton would extend Idah’s stay at Celtic.

He said: [RecordSport] “It wasn’t easy when he came in but he’s won over a lot of supporters.

“There was some talk when he arrived that it would cost around £3m to get him on a permanent deal and if that’s the figure this summer, it would be an absolute steal.

I had a busy morning this morning, so I’ve only really had time to sit down and do the rounds of the blogs and the Newspapers now.

When there’s a dearth of interesting stories out there, I will sometimes dip my toe in the cesspit that is The Sun.

I think the only reason I do it is to find ways to slag off the village idiot, and to tear apart any anti-Celtic articles.

Today, I was about fillet the village idiot when I stumbled across an article about Joey Barton.

It has to be read to be believed.

As I went down through it, I was actually stunned at the language in it.

This will tell you the depths of the hatred that rag has for our club.

They decided to dredge up a story from 2016.

Yes, 8 years ago, about an incident involving Greg Taylor and Joey Barton, and a pretty bad tackle from Taylor.

Back when Taylor was a young teenager plying his trade at Steve Clarke’s Kilmarnock.

IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ONLY RED CARD TAYLOR HAS RECEIVED IN HIS CAREER TO DATE.

That much, you wouldn’t really be bothered about.

But it’s attack that Joey Barton launches on Taylor that is both shocking in it’s ineptitude, and the violent language contained within it.

Put it this way, if I was Taylor, I would be getting his solicitor to get in touch with that rag.

Then I’d be getting Police Scotland in touch with Joey Barton.

The level of irresponsibility shown by The Sun to facilitate such a verbal attack on a professional footballer is staggering.

THE VERBAL ATTACK AND THREATS DIRECTED TOWARDS TAYLOR BY BARTON ARE NOTHING SHORT OF CRIMINAL.

The fact that that gutter rag has journalists trawling X to find non-stories like this is pathetic.

But what’s more disturbing is that they think this kind of thing is actually newsworthy.

Take the time to read the below paragraph, and tell me that you don’t think it’s appalling?

It was a poor, poor tackle but it is still the only red card of his senior career – with Taylor going on to earn full Scotland honours and become a treble winner with Celtic.

Ancient history or not, Barton responded to a Celtic fan on Twitter comparing the pair’s career paths since then.

It’s unclear whether the Englishman had his tongue in cheek or not, but he wrote on X/Twitter:

He’s Celtic’s left back now. Look how far ahead of him I am.

Seen him coming. He’s tried to break my leg. Already had it none weight bearing.

Straight Red Card. See you later d*******.

Hid in their dressing room after the little p****.

Don’t worry he’s getting a good slap if I ever run into him in the wild.

I’ll post the video of me terrorising him on here so you can all see what a little f**** he is.

It’s unclear whether the English man had his tongue in cheek or not??

THAT LANGUAGE IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM TONGUE IN CHEEK!

That is downright naked aggression.

I genuinely cannot understand how any editor, in any publication, would allow something like that to go to press.

I mean, come on like!

Taylor was a kid at the time, and granted, the tackle was mistimed and looked pretty bad.

He was obviously inexperienced, and I’m pretty sure he learned his lesson after receiving a straight red card.

BUT FOR THE SUN, 8 YEARS ON FROM THE INCIDENT, TO PRINT THAT KIND OF DIATRIBE, IS BEYOND IRRESPONSIBLE.

To give a cretin like Barton airtime to voice his Neanderthalic lunacy is to show just how low this rag will go.

I spoke yesterday about clickbait.

In my article, I highlighted articles that are designed to draw you in without actually giving you any real story.

Well, this is a perfect example of clickbait, but this is malicious clickbait.

Firstly, it’s designed to facilitate hatred of Celtic.

Secondly, it condones threats of violence from an ex-professional with a history of violence, towards a current Celtic pro.

David Fowler of The Sun should hang his head in shame if he thinks this qualifies as news.

As for Barton, I had to laugh when he said, “Look how far ahead of him I am.”

Yeah Joey, miles ahead!

When you’re reduced to talking like a thug and a career criminal on the cesspit that is X, I’m sure you’ve reached the pinnacle of your career.

You absolute sorry excuse for a human being!

Brendan Rodgers on how he ‘perfectly envisaged’ striker competition at Celtic

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has managed to get a tune out of several attacking options at Parkhead as his side continue their title charge.

The Bhoys have three strikers fighting among themselves for first-team minutes; however, Kyogo Furuhashi and Adam Idah have taken on the bulk of our offensive workload in the second half of the campaign.

Hyeongyu Oh has become the forgotten man at Celtic, having not featured for his current employers since mid-February.

Since arriving from Norwich City on loan, Republic of Ireland international Idah has gone on to make a marked impact in green and white, registering six goals and two assists across 11 appearances north of the border [Transfermarkt].

His telling contributions away Hibernian, Motherwell, and Rangers, in particular, have helped alleviate some of the burden on positional competitor Furuhashi, who has struck 15 times in 42 outings circa 2023/24, per the same outlet.

Putting his tally into perspective, the Japan international has struggled to replicate the heights he reached last season, given he found the net on 34 occasions as the Hoops secured a historic domestic treble under Ange Postecoglou.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old is still a talismanic figure in Glasgow’s east end, which can only bode well in our attempts to claim a Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double.

Brendan Rodgers on the striker competition at Celtic

Rodgers has a favourable combination of attacking talent at his disposal, something he can apply game-by-game to capitalise on the defensive weaknesses of his opposition.

Idah’s arrival in January has enabled Celtic a direct route in behind due to his running power and physicality; meanwhile, Furuhasi’s elite movement can undo almost any defensive line in a split second.

Speaking to Celtic TV, our manager has complimented the pair for their diverging qualities. At the same time, Rodgers revealed he ‘perfectly envisaged’ both players to vigorously compete for regular minutes at Celtic.

He explained: “It’s very important. I think Adam is performing a role that I envisaged perfectly in terms of coming in and adding competition and a different threat to our game so that if we do need to change the dynamic of the game, he can do that.

“Since Adam’s come in, I think Kyogo’s game has gone back to the level that I would expect him to be at. He’s a brilliant mover, the timing of his runs, everything is so good.

Turning the conversation to their contribution against Rangers, Rodgers continued: “Both of those players are contributing a lot to the performance levels. We had a great first period of the game from Kyogo.

“When we needed to go a little bit more direct with our build-up play, Adam was great at relieving that sort of pressure and bringing the team into the game. His strength and physicality was really important for us.”

Celtic will need to rely on Furuhashi and Idah during the run-in

Celtic have no margin for error in their final six league matches, and Rodgers will need to maximise the output of Furuhashi and Idah to ensure we claim title glory for a third year running.

Intriguingly, Idah wasn’t a universally popular signing on deadline day earlier this year; however, he has barely put a foot wrong, offering an alternative threat in the final third when Furuhashi isn’t firing on all cylinders.

Both bring contrasting profiles to the table, though it is anyone’s guess who will start against St Mirren on Saturday following Idah’s goal at Ibrox.

Brendan Rodgers’ Glasgow Derby Record Hailed By Pundit

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ Glasgow derby record has been praised by pundit and former Hoops right-back Mark Wilson.

In 16 matches against Rangers, the current Parkhead gaffer has lost just once, back in 2018. Even at that, the sole game his team’s city rivals have beaten him was a narrow 1-0 scoreline in their favour.

Rodgers knows how to beat the Gers having done so 12 times. His win rate against them is a lofty 75%.

Wilson admitted on the morning after Sunday’s game that he’d rather be in the situation of his old club regarding the title race. He said: [Sky Sports] “I’d rather be in Celtic’s position at the minute knowing that Rangers have to come here and get a result, and seeing how those games have gone this season.”

The next league Glasgow derby is pivotal. At Parkhead, the Hoops have the slightest edge and the fact they have a manager leading the way who knows what he is doing is crucial.

Indeed, the pundit thinks that the boss has the edge over his opposite number. He said: “Brendan Rodgers has been an incredibly difficult manager to beat for Rangers managers and he’s had a fair few of them.

“Philippe Clement, Rangers supporters like him and think he’s the real deal and he looks the real deal. But he’s had two cracks at Rodgers and failed to beat him and yesterday was a big opportunity.”

“If it was me, I’d rather be sitting in Celtic’s position knowing I’ve got a home game against Rangers.”

With six league matches to go, the Bhoys know what they need to do to retain their title. They have to be impeccable over the coming weeks but with a fully fit squad that is beginning to click into gear, there is no reason to say they can’t.

Callum McGregor names one Celtic downside as skipper ranks Rangers display

Callum McGregor insists Celtic’s performance at Ibrox yesterday was as good as he’s seen during his long stay at the club.

The Hoops only ended up with a 3-3 draw but were completely dominant in the first half and went in at the break 2-0 up. Rangers were able to get back into it with an improved second period but the visitors were back in front in stoppage time before conceding again to a Rabbi Matondo cracker to make it 3-3.

Skipper McGregor was only able to make a late appearance off the bench after recovering from injury but not being deemed fit enough for the 90 minutes, replacing Reo Hatate who is also working his way back to prime condition. He was mightily impressed by how his teammates played in the first half though and reckons he hasn’t seen better at that venue.

But if he’s being critical, he admits they could have done with going 3-0 up to really hammer home the gulf at that moment in time.

He said: “The team performance was as good as I’ve seen here. In terms of performance, staying calm and showing composure, the football we played was outstanding. The only criticism is that we maybe don’t get the third goal to give us more comfort in the game.

“Second half we showed good personality to get through the sticky spells as well. We played with big energy and big ability and the only criticism that we have is that we didn’t go three or four up, even at half-time because we were so good in the game.

“The midfield were superb but the whole team was outstanding. We had the confidence to play through the pitch and we were a real threat at the top end as well.

“Sometimes you’ve got to see the bigger picture. It’s always a tough game when you come here and probably the disappointment will be that we’ve drawn after being so positive and being so good in the game.

“There is probably a bit of disappointment on the bus but we’ll dust ourselves down and look forward to the run-in. The positive is that the boys were so good. We played with big personality and quality and we’ve come out of here in a positive place.”

McGregor admits he would have been gutted to have missed out completely and revealed the decision to bench him was made on Friday.

The Hoops captain added: “It’s a big game when you come here. You want to be involved and help the group as much as you can. I never quite made it from the start but I wanted to be here and if I’d missed the game I’d have been devastated.

“Obviously those decisions lie with the manager. I spoke to him on Friday and he gave me the call. That was fine.

“It’s always about the team, it’s never about me personally and wanting to play in the game. It’s about what’s best for the team and trying to help the lads as much as I can.

“There’s not much room to breathe out there, is there? It’s good to be back.

“You know the game is going to turn at some point when you come here. They are a good side as well, they get the ball forward and once the crowd get involved in the game, it can be difficult.”

Alex’s Angle: Spare Me The ‘Fortress Ibrox’ Baloney

ONLY the churlish among us would deny Philippe Clement the praise he deserves for propelling a wayward team back on track.

The Belgian arrived in November with the Ibrox outfit displaying all the directional awareness of a blindfolded drunken sailor tasked with negotiating his way through a minefield.

They were clueless, guileless and aimless as they stumbled along under the leadership – I use the word in its loosest form – of the classless Michael Beale. The Londoner was jettisoned in the immediate aftermath of the home Premiership defeat from Aberdeen, the third loss in the league early in the campaign.

Kilmarnock had beaten them in the domestic season’s kick-off at Rugby Park on August 5 and Celtic dismissed them as also-rans just under a month later in the midst of the toxic atmosphere in Govan.

Brendan Rodgers is astute enough to realise his team did not have to perform on full throttle that afternoon. Their opponents went into the encounter on the back of a 5-1 Champions League play-off second leg thrashing from PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands as they were catapulted out of Europe’s elite competition on a lopsided 7-3 aggregate score.

The Parkhead side did enough to get the derby over the line with a marevllous strike from Kyogo Furuhashi while Joe Hart, helpled ably by Liam Scales in front of him, proved to be unbeatable. Callum McGregor also played a captain’s part in the middle of the park.

The Ibrox club had been swept into the confrontation on the torrents of hot air and hullabaloo and suffered the consequences against fired-up opponents.

There was much to do for Clement when he arrived on these shores following his dismissal from AS Monaco in June, coincidentally around the time Rodgers was returning for his second stint in the east end of the city after he, too, had received his P45 after over four years at Leicester City.

ON ITS WAY…Kyogo Furuhashi’s first-time drive arrows in on its target for the only goal of the game at Ibrox on September 3.

The Belgian, unlike his brash predecessor, refused to adopt a scattergun approach with a blizzard of daft promises. Instead, he took the more studious undertaking of the challenges ahead and reminded everyone he did not possess “a little magic stick” a la Harry Potter.

On the back of three successive Belgian Pro-League titles – one with Genk and two with Brugge – he attracted the attention of AS Monaco. The last time I looked the Belgian top flight was rated eighth in the UEFA co-efficient while our own Premiership is ranked 16th.

So, without the assistance of “a little magic stick”, Clement has put his organisational skills to a good use in Govan. He has worked well with some of the dross that was brought to the club by Beale.

Credit where it is due. However, please spare me all the baloney and drivel we are now enduring about a return to the days of Fortress Ibrox, a citadel built on sand due to a fiscal sleight of hand that eventually caught up with the errant club and its owners.

Celtic players are supposed to be living in fear of stepping onto the pitch for tomorrow’s noon encounter.

ROARING SUCCESS…Brendan Rodgers yells in delight after another Celtic triumph.

I suppose the Aris Limassol team were similarly afflicted by such trepidation when they turned up for their Europa League clash and led 1-0 for most of the game before settling for a 1-1 draw?

Remember, please, this was after their 2-1 victory over their much-vaunted opponents at their 11,000-capacity Alphamega Stadium. Admittedly, though, Steven Davis was working as interim manager at the time.

Okay, how about Motherwell? Did they also overcome the jitters before their recent 2-1 triumph? And what about Benfica 23 days ago when they scuppered the travel plans of many onlookers with thoughts of descending on Dublin for the competition’s showpiece finale on May 22?

Brendan Rodgers, John Kennedy and the players will afford their city neighbours the respect they deserve as they square up for the third derby of the season.

However, I doubt very much if anyone in the away dressing room will be quivering in his boots at the prospect of performing at ‘Fortress Ibrox’.

Full strength potential for Celtic amid ‘boost’ pre-Rangers

Brendan Rodgers could well have a full-strength squad heading into Celtic’s crucial clash with Rangers on Sunday, according to a report.

Ally McCoist has slammed Scotland’s new hate crime law and claimed he and every Rangers fan will be at risk of breaching it against Celtic on Sunday.

The controversial bill has faced a barrage of criticism since it officially came into force on Monday, with JK Rowling and Elon Musk among the high-profile figures arguing that the legislation could harm free speech. The act creates a new offence of “threatening or abusive behaviour that is intended to stir up hatred” on the grounds of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.

But McCoist – who will be working at Ibrox for this weekend’s Old Firm title clash – reckons the introduction of the new hate speech laws is “madness”.

He told talkSPORT: “We’ve got a hate bill. By the way, a hate bill has been passed in the country. And I can guarantee you, next Sunday at Ibrox, I, along with 48,000 will be committing a breach of that hate bill in the particular Rangers vs Celtic game we are all going to. It is madness.”

Gers icon McCoist reckons even senior police figures believe the act – passed by MSPs in 2021 – is unenforceable.

He said: “That’s exactly what the police think. The police spokesperson has come out and more and less said that. He obviously can’t because he’ll get himself in trouble.

“He has implied it, everybody with two brain cells in their head knows it’s madness, crazy. There is nobody in our country who thinks that is a good idea, who I have spoken to.”

John Kennedy says, “To be honest,” about how the Celtics’ locker room is feeling in advance of the Ibrox Glasgow Derby.

John Kennedy has shared how the Celtic dressing room is really feeling ahead of the big Ibrox Glasgow Derby game against Rangers next week.

Yesterday’s win over Livingston has placed Celtic back on top of the Scottish Premiership, albeit Rangers have a game in hand, but if Brendan Rodgers‘ side takes three points away from Ibrox then Celtic will be firmly in the driving seat ahead of the top six split.

With the full focus now on next Sunday, Celtic Assistant Manager, John Kennedy, has shared just how his players are feeling ahead of the trip to Rangers and how the team plans to prepare for the top-of-the-table clash.

Rangers have a tricky away trip at Dundee on the 10th of April and should they fail to win that then the title race will have taken another big twist if Celtic can pull off an Ibrox win as well.

Celtic the ‘calmest place’ in Scotland

The Hoops’ second in command has admitted that whilst his players remain focused on training, there is not a hint of nerves amongst the Celtic players yet.

Kennedy said [Scottish Football Podcast], “To be honest, and I’m not just saying this, but it’s probably the calmest place in Scotland inside our training ground.

“We know it’s about the sessions we do and the preparation we put in.

“And the reality is that we just have to take each day as it comes and make sure we prepare properly.

“We know when we are fully prepared and we are at like we have been the last little while then we know we are in good spirits and go and attack the game as we always do.

“But the reality is if you caught up in it too early in the week you allow the emotion to set in too early it’s also draining.

“So for us, it’s about keeping calm, just can control what we can control which is the training and when next weekend comes we will deal with that.”

Celtic have a number of their top players returning from injury. Yesterday saw Reo Hatate return for the first time since December since he was injured on international duty with Japan.

We also saw Cameron Carter-Vickers get a start as he builds up his fitness ahead of the Ibrox game and Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi were also looking sharp in the 3-0 win over Livingston.

Yesterday’s victory sets the team up well for Sunday and hopefully, the confidence remains high amongst the players as Brendan Rodgers looks to pick up his second Ibrox win of the season.

At the ideal moment, Celtic unleashed Reo Hatate, and Brendan Rodgers unveiled his fast-track strategy for Rangers.

John Kennedy hailed rampaging Reo Hatate after his stunning return helped Celtic surge back to the top of the table.

The Parkhead assistant boss poured praise onto the Japanese ace who fired straight onto top form in spectacular style at Livingston. Hatate had a huge hand in the opening goal of the 3-0 success and displayed all his usual diligence and class despite starting a first game since last October.

The 26-year-old was smooth in his work at the Tony Macaroni Arena and Kennedy outlined the importance of the Asian’s impressive return. The assistant boss said: “He was on it right from the first minute and he has been in training, which is why the gaffer thought to get him in the team quickly. He’s been terrific the last few weeks. He came back in good condition and worked really hard. We had the game last week to give him some minutes and he was really good, so it was time to unleash him. I think you can see what he brings to the team.”

Hatate is a difference-maker for the champions as Kennedy continued: “I think that’s always the case with your best players. He’s shown that, in terms of big games and big performances. He’s obviously not fully up to speed, but I think we can see that he’s in pretty good condition and it’s just the confidence he brings to the team as well.

“He plays with that composure. Even on a difficult pitch, you can see how he brings a calmness to the game. He sees the passes which the front players thrive on and he gives us a slightly different dynamic.

“It’s important to have him back. It’s just about getting him through the week now, getting him that extra bit fitter going into next week. Even when he came off, Paulo [Bernardo] came on, gave us a bit of buzz and got his goal.”

Bernardo was netting his fourth goal of the season with his effort and Matt O’Riley made it a dozen for his campaign with a third. The Danish international was also in excellent form in West Lothian with Tomoki Iwata also playing his part in the success in the absence of skipper Callum McGregor.

Kennedy continued: “He’s been crucial for us this year, especially when Callum comes out, the dynamic changes slightly. Even Tomoki, in terms of the physicality he gave us, the number of times he picked up second balls or broke up attacks, he was really good and that allowed Matt and Reo to get involved further forward.

“It’s a good dynamic. We’ve got good options in there now, so that will be crucial in the run-in.”

Celtic were highly impressive against the league’s bottom team as they took control from the opening stages of the game. Rodgers’ squad looked in good form heading for the run-in and ahead of Sunday’s massive encounter against Rangers at Ibrox.

As well as having Hatate back in the fold for the win at Livi, skipper McGregor is also on course to make the top-of-the-table showdown. Rodgers’ squad has been beset by injury issues this term with a horst of key figures missing large periods of the campaign.

Stars such as Cameron Carter-Vickers have also been sidelined for spells, but the American also seems in rude health going into the final seven games of the Premiership race. Kennedy, who took on the main technical area duties with Rodgers serving a suspension and sitting in the stand at the Tony Macaroni Arena, admits it has not been simple to cope with the missing stars, but things are coming together now on the fitness front.

He said: “The squad is taking shape. Cam [Carter-Vickers] has another 90 minutes under his belt and with Reo back in we’ve pretty much got a full bill of health.

“We’re in good shape going into the run-in, but for us it’s just about focusing on performance and maintaining that level. It’s been a challenge but that’s part of football. It happens sometimes, and it’s affected our rhythm and our performances sometimes.

“But, in the last period we’ve been very good. We’ve given away one or two cheap goals which has kept other teams in games, but our attacking play has been really good. It’s been very good from our front players, the way we supply them and then the end product with us scoring a lot of goals.

“It’s just about staying on that. But even today, the defensive part of the game was very good. If you allow Livingston to get up into your half and get balls into your box, that’s when the trouble stops. But we stopped that at source, which was what Kyogo [Furuhashi], Daizen {Maeda] and Nick [Kuhn] did at the front end. Our midfield worked in and around that then the boys at the back dealt with anything that came along.

“That’s a really crucial part. Everyone thinks that when you come to Livingston it’s all about going and breaking them down. That’s very much part of it, but for us it’s just as important how we defend against that, how we press to stop them giving us difficult moments.

“At the same time, it forces mistakes and gives us chances, which we got a couple from in the first half as well. As a performance as a whole, it was really pleasing.”

Hugh Keevins: “It’s been a crazy Celtic season filled with unexpected events, but that’s just part of theme park life.”

What the SFA have done by handing Brendan Rodgers a suspended sentence for calling match officials “incompetent” is complete the construction of a theme park for conspiracy theorists.

The work was started by their co-architects, the SPFL, when they rearranged Rangers’ postponed game against Dundee for the Wednesday after the Old Firm derby next weekend. Celtic fans claimed that decision was based on bias and intended to keep Rangers’ players fresh for the Ibrox showdown.

Rangers fans now believe Celtic’s manager was shown leniency at his disciplinary hearing to ensure he’d be in the dugout opposite Philippe Clement for next weekend’s vital derby. The SFA went for compromise with Rodgers. Old Firm fans only understand conflict. Such as the row caused by appointing referee Don Robertson to take charge of Celtic’s game at Livingston this afternoon, three days after Rodgers was tried for suggesting the official was incompetent when Celtic lost at Tynecastle on March 3.

Some might say that’s pure coincidence. Most of the Celtic support will call it provocative. Now the only way the situation can be made even worse would be to appoint John Beaton to referee next Sunday’s game between the clubs. They couldn’t, could they? A toxic tone has been set for the remainder of a season in which the two main prizes, the league title and the Scottish Cup, will be decided by games between Celtic and Rangers.

It is an atmosphere that is unhealthy and unattractive but unavoidable at the same time. The SFA and the SPFL have pandered to the paranoid by their decision-making because Old Firm fans look at life with a suspicious mind and the resolute intention of trusting no one. At least it has brought them back to life. Celtic and Rangers supporters regard the interruption of the league season for international matches as a source of extreme irritation.

I know this from personal experience, having listened to so many radio callers express their disbelief that the title race could be halted for something as trivial and meaningless as games involving Scotland. So the SFA and the SPFL have resumed normal service by giving everyone an excuse to complain about everything and everybody.

Rodgers has, though, more to focus on at the ground with no name now that Tony Macaroni have ended their sponsorship deal with Livingston. Livi might be best described as a periodic pest to Celtic on the back of six drawn games between them, along with two defeats for the champions, in their Premiership history. Their manager David Martindale is, I’m told, in advanced discussions over turning his life-less-ordinary into a book.

It’s not as if he’s short on material, after all. But what kind of blockbuster might he be capable of providing today? Livi are, as I’ve told Martindale to his face, going down to the Championship and face an uncertain future because of external difficulties at the club that are outwith his control.

They could still inflict potentially fatal damage to Celtic’s title hopes if they put up a belligerent front today. And Celtic’s season has been characterised by the arrival of things they didn’t see coming, like points dropped at unusual times in unexpected places. They say opposites attract but do they distract as well? It’s a synthetic surface and not grass they’ll be playing on today. The ground will be full of Celtic supporters but there will be none at Ibrox next Sunday due to an ongoing case of mutual loathing.

And Rodgers’ team will be playing a team at the bottom, and not the top, of the league table. The only constants will be a lunch-time kick-off, live television coverage and the away fans’ inherent distrust of the match officials.

It never goes away. When Rodgers had his first ever league match in charge of Celtic, against Hearts at Tynecastle on August 7 2016, the referee awarded a highly controversial penalty to the home team. His name was John Beaton. Eight years later, the sour relationship between the referee and Celtic’s manager is still a headline-maker.

Such is life in the theme park.

Reo Hatate returns but probably as a substitute at Livingston

Reo Hatate is now fit and raring to go after many months on the sidelines. The Japanese playmaker has worked hard in training these past few weeks and is now back in the first team squad. That is welcome news with a trip to Ibrox looming next weekend.

Before that we have another difficult hurdle to overcome in the shape of Livingston tomorrow afternoon, but that’s a game that Reo might not be quite ready to start at this particular moment. Yes we could do with his creativity against a side who will look to suffocate us from the start. There is anti-football and then there’s David Martindale tactics and in the land of the Livingston giants we know what to expect in terms of a physical approach to the game from the relegation bound home side.

Reo would be target for the Livingston hard men from the start. They know he’s just back from injury and Martindale will instruct his players to test Reo’s frailty on their artificial surface, you can bet your life on that especially with us playing wee David’s favourite other team next Sunday.

The most sensible option would be to leave Reo on the bench and maybe bring him on if needed. We need him for next week more.

So that’s the three big calls for Brendan tomorrow. Callum McGregor sitting beside the gaffer in the stand, Reo Hatate on the bench and Cameron Carter-Vickers wearing the armband and on from the start. Will be interesting to see if Brendan thinks the same way.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

“We are a family,” says Hart, listing the four actions necessary for the group to completely gel.

Everything Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart said to the media, ahead of his side’s trip to Livingston on Sunday afternoon…

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Two weeks off following the international break, how’s it been?

Yeah, it’s been good and used well. People got some good international minutes and some stayed back and got some good training in. We’re all ready to go, especially the guys who haven’t had internationals as a distraction. We’re looking forward to Sunday.

What are the aims for the three games before the split, what’s the message? 

We’ve got to take it on like we have done all year. Keep everyone in as good a condition as we possibly can, and have as strong a squad to pick from. We’ll look to attack every game.

How’s the mood and atmosphere in the dressing room? How confident are the boys going into this final home run? 

We’re in a good place. There’s always that kind of fresh feeling after an international break. You spend an awful amount of time with each other so it’s nice to have some time apart. There were a few stories to share and moments with good people and getting a few people back fit which means we’re in a good spot.

About the manager, he’s been suspended for one game. As an experienced pro, how much of a difference does it make when the manager is or isn’t on the touchline?

It’s the same with the players, you want your best players available, whether that’s your leader or the manager. Sometimes you have situations like this. We are more than capable and he’s had more than long enough to put his message across with what he needs and wants from us. They’re an incredible coaching staff that has been there for a long while now and that we all feel comfortable with. There’s no doubt we want Brendan (Rodgers) with us in the dugout, but the rules say that he’s not there. He’s going to do everything he possibly can to help us, and that’s no different.

Surely it’s a big boost that he will be available for that Rangers game, there was fear it was going to be a two-match ban. 

Yeah, not for me to comment on speculation, and Rangers will take care of itself in however many days time. The most important game is Livingston. We won’t have Brendan in the dugout with us but John (Kennedy) will step in. He’s been personally with me my whole journey here, and he’s definitely got managerial skills from learning from great managers such as Brendan in the past and working with Ange Postecoglou. We look forward to seeing what he’s got.

You’ve mentioned getting a few players back. Does that give you a good feeling in the dressing room seeing these players?

Yeah, it’s a great feeling. There is no doubt we are at our best when we have everybody available and the manager has decisions to make on who he picks. In every single position, we are strong when people are fit and we are getting towards that point. That is an exciting place to be with such a potentially exciting end to the season.

You mentioned you spend so much time together that you need some time apart. Do these spells apart refresh you mentally?

Yes, of course. That’s life. We are a family. We are a team. We are a group of people who are working together, squabbling, fighting and looking to do what’s best for each other and what’s best for the team. For that relationship to flourish you need to have time apart sometimes – a refresh. Some people are in a good place and they need to calm down. Some people need to go and get minutes elsewhere. Some people just need some time away and it works. Football is really good like that and these international breaks for everyone at different stages in their career really do help.

Was this one especially crucial as we enter what everybody calls the business end of the season?

It is what is. The March window has always been there. Only COVID disrupted that. Whether it’s, good, bad or indifferent it is what it is.  I think we have used it from all aspects as a positive.

You’ve been involved in title races and the latter stage of cup competitions. How do you deal with the pressure of that? Is there a different feeling going into every game when you get to this stage?

I think you just concentrate on what you can take care of and right now it has been training sessions and on Sunday we have a very important game and we are all looking forward to being involved in it. We have one more training session in which we are going to prepare and we’ve got all the bodies back through the door and we managed to train together practically as a full squad. We have got another chance to discuss Livingston and what we are going to implement in the game. On Sunday we have all that to focus on.

Stephen Welsh Explains How Joe Hart Preserves Unwavering Celtic Traditions

In a poignant moment for both players and fans, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart announced at the end of last month that he would be retiring from football come the end of the season.

Centre-half Stephen Welsh admitted how the Hoops’ dressing room was understandably gutted when such news surfaced.

Hart will be a significant loss for the Celts next season. Whoever takes the gloves from the veteran must be an elite ‘keeper, but it will be difficult to replace the veteran’s off-the-pitch values.

Given his experience in the game and what he has achieved throughout his lengthy and prestigious career, Hart’s experience and leadership are invaluable to Brendan Rodgers’ dressing room.

The gaffer has an arduous job on his hands replacing the former Man City stopper, and Welsh has revealed how Hart helps uphold the impeccable standards at the club. “He can get after us as well”, he told RecordSport.

“If we’re slacking off a wee bit, he’s the first person to get us up for it and he’s the first person to praise you for something, too. He’s been great for us.”

The 36-year-old’s spell in Glasgow has been decked in silverware. Hart won five trophies – including a treble – in his first two years with Celtic.

Going into the current campaign’s climax, the ex-England number one will want to go out on a high and end his playing career in the right manner.

Celtic injury latest after international break as key players close in on returns

1. Out: Maik Nawrocki

The defender remains out after suffering another injury setback. Nawrocki is currently “receiving intensive treatment” on a hamstring injury with a return date yet to be specified

2. Out: Luis Palma

Palma did not leave on international duty and is expected to be out for one month after struggling with “muscle discomfort in his right leg”

3. Doubt: Callum McGregor

As he recovers from an Achilles injury, Rodgers said the club “have to assess that and see where he is at over the next 24 hours”

 

4. Doubt: Liam Scales

Like Hatate, reports claim the club are hoping to see Scales back in time to face Livingston after recently picking up a knock

5. Doubt: Reo Hatate

Hatate is back in training and has been “progressing well” according to Rodgers. Celtic are hoping that if all goes to plan, he will be able to feature on Sunday. But of course, nothing is set in stone until match-day

‘I’ve been told’: Mark Guidi shares a summer transfer update that will excite the Celtic fans

Celtic’s work in the transfer market has really frustrated the supporters over the past two seasons.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been huge success stories with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate.

But for every one of those players, Celtic always seem to find an Oliver Abildgaard, Nat Phillips, Yosuke Ideguchi and Hyeokkyu Kwon.

And that’s because of the market Celtic shop in and their player trading model. Not spending over £3m for a player is great in some aspects and can pay off.

But as we have seen not just this season but also under Ange Postecoglou, the quality isn’t the same as spending £6m on a Cameron Carter-Vickers or Jota.

But all that is set to change this summer after what journalist, Mark Guidi, has been told.

Celtic set to spend this summer

Speaking last night on Go Radio, Guidi was commenting on Brendan Rodgers needing to replace Joe Hart in the summer and whilst he said there is still value at the lower end of the transfer market scale, the journalist said he’s heard that Celtic are about to move into the £6m-£7m player market this summer.

Guidi said [The Go Radio Football Show], “I’ve said many times. I said it last season, if Celtic can find a Jack Butland scenario or another Joe Hart scenario where it’s a free transfer or a £1m quid transfer fee and then a nice fat contract, then go for it.

“But see if you need to spend £6m-£7m then go and do it. And I’ve been told that Celtic are back in that market.

“The days of this £3m almost like a ceiling, has been wiped out. If players become available at £6m-£7m then Celtic are very much back in the market at that level.

“And that’s the way it should be, particularly for a goalkeeper.”

If this is accurate then the Celtic fans will be delighted. For too long we have watched project players come to the club and, more often than not, fail or get embarrassed in the Champions League.

To breed success, proper investment is required in the first team and it seems that the quality Rodgers has been craving all season long, could be about to be added in the summer. Let’s face it, Celtic have the money to do it.

Let’s hope it’s not to the detriment of this season as poor recruitment has already cost us the League Cup. It would be embarrassing if it cost us the league and Scottish Cup and Celtic are trophyless at the end of this campaign.

‘Difference-maker’: Gerry Creaney says Celtic have an ‘impressive’ player Rangers will be wary of at Ibrox

As the season draws to its exciting climax, the Celtic supporters will be looking forward to the return of the domestic after this international break.

Brendan Rodgers seems to have his team firing in almost all departments at this crucial stage of the title run-in with many of his Celtic players looking like they are getting back to their best after a season where some of our top guns looked really off the pace.

And it’s that return to form that Gerry Creaney believes that Rangers will be very wary of Celtic’s trip to Ibrox next month.

Creaney says Rangers will be ‘looking out’ for Kyogo

No one can deny that Kyogo has struggled to find that sparkling form that crowned him Celtic’s Player of the Season last year but now, Creaney believes that the Japan international could be the ‘difference-maker’ for the fight for the Scottish Premiership.

Creaney said [The Sunday Post print edition page 68], “He could be the difference-maker, but it might not just be through goals. He’s so impressive to watch.

“That turn of speed, that sharpness aligned to what he’s trying to achieve – score goals.

“He’s diminutive but strong. I believe he’s still got players around him with the ability to slip balls through that he’s quick and sharp enough to get on.

“You see different facets and traits coming out of people when they’re under a bit more pressure.

“That’s something, I’m sure, Celtic players will be more than able to stand up to.

“And with Kyogo, there’s no doubt Rangers will be looking out for him as the danger man.”

Kyogo has terrorised Rangers

The Celtic striker took a bit of time to find his groove against our Glasgow rivals but over the past two seasons, Kyogo has absolutely terrorised Rangers.

In eleven appearances against the Ibrox club, the 29-year-old has won six, drawn two and lost three whilst contributing seven goals. [Transfermarkt]

In his first season, Kyogo missed two derbies due to a hamstring injury but it was in the treble-winning season 2022/23 that the Celtic striker put the Ibrox club to the sword.

In the 2-2 New Year derby Kyogo scored a vital late equaliser to fortify Celtic’s position at the top of the league.

In the following clash at Celtic Park, the Bhoys ran out 3-2 victors with a Kyogo double proving crucial in a win that virtually wrapped up the title.

The Japanese also put Rangers to the sword in the League Cup final with another double as Ange Postecoglou successfully defended the first trophy he won as the Celtic manager.

And this season, Kyogo scored the winner in the 1-0 Ibrox win and the 2-1 victory at Celtic Park.

I would say Rangers are going to be a little bit more than wary of Kyogo. I believe they will be fearing him the closer the April derby comes.

Brian Dempsey to speak out on Fergus McCann’s Celtic takeover

Brian Dempsey has joined the cast list at The Celtic Exchange to share his views on the 30th anniversary of Fergus McCann’s takeover of Celtic.

Then in his forties, the Glasgow based property developer had been appointed to the Celtic board in 1990 but when it came to the AGM to ratify his appointment Michael Kelly and Chris White ensured that his place wasn’t confirmed.

As Celtic’s fortunes nose-dived on the park with debt creeping dangerously high others started to look at ways to replace the Kelly and White dynasty that had been in control of Celtic since the early days of the century.

The charismatic Dempsey formed an alliance with McCann, most of the media commentary came from Dempsey who stood on the steps of Celtic Park to declare that the rebels had won.

The alliance between the two men never survived very long, both have different versions of events with Dempsey fairly critical of some of the decisions taken by McCann as he forged a new business model with 51% of the club shares.

During international week the content from The Celtic Exchange has been priceless. A traditional documentary would only have skimmed the surface but with six, so far, hour long interviews most of the main characters have been able to share their stories, recollections and reflections leaving the viewer with a fuller picture of the most turbulent times in Celtic’s history.