Celtic

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Kasper Schmeichel is winning his battle to be fit for the Scottish Cup final after being out since March with a shoulder injury. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A league and Scottish Cup double didn't get him manager of the year last season. A league and League Cup double and a place in the Scottish Cup final hasn't been enough to sway the voting from his peers in his direction this term either.

Brendan Rodgers could well this month become the only Celtic manager to win three trebles and yet John McGlynn's back-to-back promotions into the top flight with Falkirk have twice denied the Northern Irishman the top award from PFA Scotland.

What more could Rodgers do? And does he get the credit he deserves?

The answers, for me, are: nothing, and no. Incidentally, I have no problem whatsoever with McGlynn's double. He's a fantastic manager.

For Celtic, however, to be standing on the brink of a sixth domestic treble in nine seasons - with Rodgers at the helm for three of them, if he can steer his side past Aberdeen at Hampden - means there's a serious side effect to the club's addiction to success. Such domination tends to diminish the scale of the achievement.

If you've done five trebles recently, how big a deal can it be to make it to the half dozen? Given the main opposition, Rangers, rotate through managers at the rate of roughly one a year, is it any wonder Celtic's relative rock-solid stability breeds triumph after triumph?

The complacency with which Celtic's honours are sometimes greeted does a great disservice to the players and manager. Ask any professional sportsperson how difficult it is to lead from the front, with a target forever on your back.

St Johnstone, Hibs and Rangers (twice) have all beaten Celtic this calendar year. Yet still Rodgers' side sits 17 points clear at the top with just three games left. They could yet amass 94 points.

Yes, Celtic have the biggest budget in Scottish football and therefore better players than everyone else. That doesn't guarantee you continued success or blanket domination. Just ask Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Where the Celtic manager earns his corn – and should earn the respect of anyone else in the game – is building, and maintaining, such a winning culture. He transformed the side in one season into 'invincible treble' winners in 2017.

Another treble followed in 2018, while he set the foundation for the 2019 domestic clean sweep by winning the League Cup and establishing a gap at the top before abandoning ship for Leicester.

He wasn't therefore universally welcomed back in 2023. Rodgers held firm and delivered a double. He may well go one better this time around.

Still not enough to win the first boss of the year award. Will the football writers perhaps gift him their managerial prize? He's not likely to lose any sleep over it if they don't. All he has to do is keep his support base and board happy.

His team nearly beat Bayern Munich in their own backyard in the Champions League knockout phase. European progress achieved. Domestic domination? Box nearly ticked, although the Dons will have plenty to say about that at Hampden.

If you can only beat what's in front of you, Rodgers has consistently done so, and then some. His problem is that it's perceived as all too easy, and greeted with little more than a shrug of the shoulders in some quarters.

Credit should be given where due - Celtic have a top coach doing a top job. Fans who still wish he hadn't come back are pretty thin on the ground these days.

Tino
Fan writer

It was Ange Postecoglou who coined the phrase "We never stop!" during his time at Celtic, and it feels as relevant now as it did then as we head into the final fixtures of this season.

But is it that relentless and ruthless mindset from within the first-team environment that's actively preventing young players from making the grade at Celtic Park?

With the title already wrapped up, many would see the final three Scottish Premiership fixtures as the perfect time to provide some of our academy players with vital first-team experience.

But the reality is that's very unlikely to happen.

With momentum being viewed as a priority before the Scottish Cup final, and almost every game we play being labelled as a 'must win', there's every chance our most talented youth prospects will once again find themselves watching from afar.

The manager has made it abundantly clear there'll be no coasting over the finish line and every member of his squad - young and old alike - will be desperate to stake a claim for a place at Hampden.

And so the big debate among fans remains - when (and where) is the right time for Celtic to introduce youngsters to the squad?

Of Celtic's 53 games this season so far, four of the current crop of academy players have had first-team minutes.

But when you drill down into the detail it makes for some fairly uninspiring reading.

While Dane Murray was exposed to a Champions League cameo against Aston Villa, followed shortly after by the full 90 minutes in a 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers, his young team-mates have featured even more sparingly.

Daniel Cummings got 12 minutes in the same Villa game, while Jude Bonnar played 11 minutes of February's 5-1 league win over Aberdeen. Francis Turley has featured for just one solitary minute, replacing Reo Hatate in an early-season 3-0 win over St Mirren.

So what's the solution?

If we play the youngsters and go on to drop points or lose cup ties, what does that do for their confidence, and for the confidence of the fans?

Alternatively, if we don't play them - akin to what we're doing just now - then what's the point of the academy at all?

Is it good enough to just be producing players who go on to make their careers elsewhere? Most would say no.

And though the ongoing success of the first team is something we'll all continue to enjoy, an undeniable hope for many fans is that we soon see the emergence of the next Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney or James Forrest from Lennoxtown.

But for that to happen, in its simplest form our youngsters must get minutes. Otherwise they'll just disappear like so many before them in recent times.

So while the "We never stop" mantra has so many positive connotations, maybe now is the time to stop, reassess and take a long hard look at what's next for the Celtic academy.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

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Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Callum McGregor and manager Brendan Rodgers have all been nominated for this year's Scottish Football Writers' Association end-of-season awards.

Japan striker Maeda, who this week won PFA Scotland's player of the year prize, could claim the SFWA's equivalent by fending off competition from captain McGregor, Dundee forward Simon Murray and Hibernian midfielder Nectar Triantis.

Maeda currently leads the Scottish Premiership's scoring chart, along with Dundee's Murray on 16 goals, while McGregor has once again been the driving force in the heart of the Celtic team as they eye another domestic treble.

Manager Rodgers, who has guided the Parkhead side to a 13th league title in 14 seasons, is vying with Hibs head coach David Gray, Falkirk's John McGlynn and Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin for the manager of the year award.

Rodgers lost out on the PFA Scotland award to McGlynn, who has taken Falkirk to the top flight for the first time in 15 years.

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Former Celtic forward John Hartson fears speculation over manager Brendan Rodgers' future may affect the club next season. (Sun), external

Another ex-Celtic player, Stiliyan Petrov, expects the club to spend this summer and suggests five more players like Daizen Maeda would be a good place to start. (Herald - subscription required), external

And Petrov expects Celtic midfielder Arne Engels, 22, to be "a completely different player next season". (Record), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Brendan Rodgers is relishing the prospect of a "tough test from a top Premier League side" when Celtic host Newcastle United in a friendly at Celtic Park this summer.

The Scottish and English League Cup winners will meet on Saturday, July 19 in the Adidas Trophy.

Eddie Howe, who ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy this season, turned down the opportunity to manage Celtic in May 2021 before Ange Postecoglou's appointment.

Celtic boss Rodgers said: "I'm really looking forward to this match in the summer and I think it will be a great occasion for both sets of players and supporters, as well as being really important in our build-up to next year."

Howe added: "Travelling to Glasgow to face Celtic is a great opportunity to test ourselves as we gear up for Premier League and European football next season.

"We'll face a top team at an historic ground, with a big away crowd there to support us."

Celtic are interested in Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic, but have been warned the teenager is not for sale. (Max Sport via Daily Record), external

Celtic star Daizen Maeda insists talks over a new deal with the club will have to wait until the end of the season, with his full focus on the Scottish Cup final. (Daily Record), external

Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt are interested in long-term Celtic target Mathias Kvistgaarden and the Brondby forward would favour a move to Germany. (Football Insider), external

Celtic are considering bringing goalkeeper Ross Doohan back to the club when his Aberdeen contract expires in the summer to help meet Champions League regulations on home grown talent. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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"Driven" Viljami Sinisalo is content "trying to prove" he can play for Celtic and is not allowing himself to think about what happens when number one Kasper Schmeichel returns to fitness.

The 23-year-old has started the past six matches for Brendan Rodgers' side since his 38-year-old team-mate - who Sinisalo said "cannot be replaced" - suffered a shoulder injury on international duty with Denmark in late March.

Asked if he felt he had given manager Rodgers a decision to make with his performances since stepping into the team, the Finn said: "That's a tough question. Kasper's been brilliant for us for the whole season, he's been amazing.

"What he brings to the squad, what he brings to the changing room, you can't replace that. He's a big voice, he's a leader.

"If I stay in the team, if Kasper gets in the team, that's the manager's decision. I'm just trying to prove I can play for this football club every day in training and in games like [Sunday's derby with Rangers]."

Schmeichel is battling to get back in time for the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen on 24 May, though Rodgers said after Sunday's 1-1 draw away to Rangers that Sinisalo had shown he "has the authority to play for Celtic".

"To hear someone say that is great, obviously, but I want to get better," the keeper added. "Every game is an opportunity to get better and I'm very much driven in that.

"I want to just try and showcase my ability to the people that probably haven't seen me as much."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Champions Celtic failed to get the better of rivals Rangers in the final derby of the season, but they ensured they didn't suffer a third straight defeat in the fixture.

Crucial to that was Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The United States international was Celtic's best performer in defence and was always there when the big interventions were required.

We asked for your views on Celtic's derby draw at Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Paul: Celtic should've won this game, several decisive opportunities spurned, although Rangers had a few chances themselves. The jury is still out on Adam Idah, he still has a lot improve on to appease the Celtic support but his goal was well taken. The draw wasn't a fair result in the end though.

Ray: Pretty flat with two poor teams on the day. Celtic seriously need a partner for Cameron Carter-Vickers and midfield and wide players were easily snuffed out once again. Don't seem to learn that Rangers know how to stop Celtic playing. Bit of a damp squib.

Andrew: Liam Scales has cost us too many times in big games. Idah has the attributes but needs to work harder. Need a better centre-back and centre-forward than them for next season for a start. Sinisalo looked steady for the little that was thrown at him. The game was there for the taking but too often we got in good positions and the ball came back towards our own goal. So while avoiding defeat at Ibrox is never a bad thing, it feels like an opportunity missed with having the balance of play.

Liam: If Brendan Rodgers or any fans are going to lay their hat on Idah being our main number nine next season, we will regress. He was poor for most of the game. His lack of football intelligence is baffling when you compare to what has gone before. Scales and Reo Hatate also continue to fail to consistently hit the heights we need. I expect a few changes in the summer and they are needed to try and improve this group. A number nine is first, a centre-mid, winger and centre-back.

Shaun: I still think Idah isn't good enough, he hasn't shown the hunger and determination to be good enough and his body language is a sure sign he isn't good enough. There are a few players who need to leave like Kasper Schmeichel, Auston Trusty, Scales, Luke McCowan and Arne Engels. Sinisalo was outstanding and should be number one. There are too many bit-part players at the club who need to go and it will free up a lot of wages to bring in a better calibre of player.

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• Rangers have failed to win in their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 1 February 2017 to 24 February 2017.

• Celtic have scored in 32 of their 35 games, more often than any other team in the Scottish Premiership.

• Daizen Maeda has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (one goal, three assists).

• Maeda has also now assisted 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other player.

• Cyriel Dessers has scored 14 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Rangers player.

• Mohammed Diomande has assisted seven goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Rangers player has more.

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Daizen Maeda is determined to maintain the stellar level that has rewarded the Celtic striker with PFA Scotland's player of the year prize.

The Japan forward has scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in an excellent season for the Scottish Premiership champions, who will secure another domestic treble if they beat Aberdeen in this month's Scottish Cup final.

It is the ninth time in 11 years that a Celtic player has taken home the award, with Maeda beating team-mates Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, as well as Dundee forward Simon Murray, in the votes cast from players across the SPFL divisions.

"Everything I've built up to this season has paid off," said the 27-year-old, who also claimed his club's player of the year prize, said.

"I'm doing the best for the team I play for, that's motivation for me to keep working hard and continue what I've been doing."

Celtic came from behind to deny Rangers a third straight victory over their rivals as Adam Idah's second-half strike frustrated Barry Ferguson's home side in the Scottish Premiership.

Nicolas Raskin had an early header ruled out for offside before Cyriel Dessers netted his 25th goal of the season for Rangers just before half-time, only for Republic of Ireland international Idah to pounce and level.

For Scottish champions Celtic, the point allows them to retain their 17-point margin over the second-top Ibrox side as they close out another successful league campaign unscathed.

What did you make of that, Celtic fans? Was a draw the right result? Did anyone impress you?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers thought his side's "performance level was a good one" in the draw at Ibrox.

"Rangers changed their structure, we were playing against a diamond, so once we figured that out, we had lots of moments where we played through that pressure well," he told BBC Scotland.

"There weren't too many chances either side. We had to be strong in some set-piece moments in the first half. At half-time, I still felt we were at a good place in the game.

"Second half, we controlled the game. When you come to Ibrox, you sometimes have 10-15 minutes where you're under real pressure, backs to the wall, but I never really felt that.

"If I was to criticise, maybe our final third play didn't lend us to creating opportunities. But our build-up was composed. We got the goal, we deserved it."

On goalscorer Adam Idah, Rodgers added: "Adam doesn't get criticism from us, we know his qualities. This is his first full season here, he's only going to get better.

"He's a player for the big moments. He scores big goals, in big games. He will get better all the time.

"People are judging him on his price tag, but he doesn't set that. He's a real handful for us and has shown that at every level, he gets goals."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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With a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title in the bag, this mattered little to Celtic. Except it did. They all do against Rangers.

Having lost their last two league fixtures against the Ibrox side, losing three goals in each of the last three meetings, there was no chance this would be taken lightly.

Manager Brendan Rodgers pointed to starting well and being more alert at set pieces. Both were missing and they were fortunate more than once not to concede.

However, they responded well and took a grip of matters at times, albeit their opponents had better chances, particularly in the first-half.

That they managed to come from behind is a reminder of their character and self-belief. Not at their best again, but in this environment, and circumstance, they will surely be satisfied.

It is also a big moment for Adam Idah. His goal return has been reasonable given his minutes on the pitch, but it is another big one against Rangers that will boost the perception of his overall contribution.

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Liam Scales believes criticism of Celtic and Republic of Ireland team-mate Adam Idah is harsh and the defender backs the striker to shine against Rangers on Sunday. (Sun), external

Scales, 26, enjoys fishing in Scotland as it is "good for keeping your mind clear". (Record), external

James Forrest, 33, plays down the notion that he will take a penalty should Celtic be awarded one before the end of the season to maintain his streak of scoring in successive seasons dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers defender Leon Balogun has trained with a mask after a minor operation on a cracked cheekbone. Ridvan Yilmaz and Dujon Sterling (Achilles) are out for the season while Tom Lawrence remains out. Neraysho Kasanwirjo has recovered from a knee problem and played in the Glasgow Cup final against Celtic during the week.

Celtic have lost Jota to a serious knee injury and Dane Murray is also out for the season with a knee problem. Alistair Johnston (hip) also drops out but Yang Hyun-jun could return and Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are expected to shake off knocks. Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) is still out.