Celtic

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Luke McCowan insists Celtic have no point to prove at Ibrox on Sunday but are determined to show why they are champions.

Despite treble-chasing Celtic's domestic dominance, Rangers have won the past two derbies this season.

"I don't think it's really a point to prove," said midfielder McCowan.

"We are the most consistent team in Scotland, that's why we won the league.

"But I think it's just more about showing to ourselves that it's not about us winning the league last week, it's about each performance that's coming along with that and showing that we are champions, wherever we go, regardless of it being at Ibrox on Sunday, or Hibs at home, or anybody.

"It's about putting on performances and we've got targets in our season that we want to hit.

"We've got other records within the season that we want to break, so that's the goal and we just need to go and show that.

"Ask anybody on the team or outwith those gates, your head-to-head against Rangers is always going to be important.

"It's about being consistent throughout your season. It's about showing that you're now champions, going into their patch and proving why you are and putting on a performance that shows that, so that's the kind of goal for Sunday.

"Everybody was disappointed in the last two results against Rangers. There was no hiding that, no getting away from it.

"You're expected to win at this club, and that's what we should be doing and hopefully come Sunday, that's what we are doing."

McCowan, 27, isn't expecting a guard of honour at Ibrox when the newly-crowned champions play their first game since securing the title at Tannadice last weekend.

"No. No, not at all. But that's just how it is, isn't it?," he said.

"I don't know how it would be if it was on the other foot. We'll never really know I don't think, but we will wait and see what happens."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

I may well be swimming against the tide with this one but there absolutely is such a thing as a meaningless derby between Rangers and Celtic.

This Sunday's is a prime case in point. The players will disagree, neither manager would dare admit it, and many fans might even be scratching their heads at my reasoning.

I'm doubling down, however: this latest episode of Glasgow's big footballing rivalry means the square root of diddly squat.

So what if Rangers claim three wins over the men from Parkhead this season? Any meaningful title tilt from Ibrox had disappeared long before the bells.

You'll remember Rangers cruised through the New Year derby? Inconsequential. All it did was reduce Celtic's lead at the top from very embarrassing (from a Rangers point of view) to simply embarrassing. Double figures, still, after Philippe Clement's first – and only – taste of victory in the fixture.

His rollercoaster reign didn't even last long enough for the second Parkhead derby of the term. That Rangers won that one as well was a massive shot in the arm for Barry Ferguson and an indication that, on any given day, Rangers can comfortably go toe to toe with this Celtic team and come out on top.

The wider significance? Absolutely none. Celtic's lead after losing back-to-back derbies? Thirteen points.

Which brings us neatly to the match on Sunday, and the ultimate ignominy for the men from Govan. With the calendar barely having flipped into May, they'll be hosting a team already crowned four-in-a-row champions. I'm sure the arrangements for the guard of honour are well under way.

Yes, of course pride is at stake, for both sides. Yes, of course Callum McGregor doesn't want to be the first Celtic captain to lead the side to the title while losing three times to Rangers in the same season.

My guess, however, is he'd get over it pretty quickly, given he'll soon be leading his team out at Hampden with (yet another) treble on the line.

Realistically, this is a match of no great import in the grand scheme of Scottish football. Should Rangers win, the gap to Celtic will be a 'mere' 14 points.

The uncomfortable truth for Rangers is Celtic have had bigger fish to fry this season. Champions League opposition in January. Aberdeen to come in the Scottish Cup final.

Losing the derbies hasn't mattered in the procession towards silverware, so it's little surprise they've been lacking an edge in the last two derbies.

Will they find it again on Sunday? Again, it doesn't really matter, apart from owing the 2,500 away fans in Ibrox a performance.

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

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Rangers B retained the Glasgow Cup by defeating Celtic B on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Firhill.

First-team defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo scored Rangers' opener, striking hard from inside the area.

Celtic levelled in first-half added time with Rhys Dargie turning home from close range.

There was a lengthy stoppage during the second half after Rangers' Cameron Scott sustained a head injury and left the field on a stretcher.

After 16 minutes of added time, the match went to spot-kicks and Rangers triumphed 5-4 in the shootout after Lewis Dobbie missed for Celtic.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson were in attendance at the final.

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First-team defender Neraysho Kasanwjiro scored in Rangers B's Glasgow Cup final against Celtic B as he continues his recovery from injury.

The Dutchman, who is on loan from Feyenoord, last played a senior match in early November.

He returned to training last week and scored the opening goal at Firhill, a firm strike from inside the box. Rangers B won the final 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Firhill.

Kasanwjiro, 23, has made 12 first-team appearances for the Ibrox side and could feature in their remaining four Scottish Premiership games this season.

Rangers host Celtic on Sunday (12:00 BST).

Tino
Fan writer

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Champions again? Four titles in a row? Double secured?

It's a resounding yes to all of the above - but if you think Brendan Rodgers and his players are satisfied with their lot then think again.

Because despite the phenomenal success Celtic have enjoyed in recent times, perhaps what's most impressive is their drive in the immediate aftermath of a trophy win to say: "Great. What's next?"

Don't get me wrong, it's important to take time to savour the wins - and the players did just that following the title clincher at Tannadice - but it's not something this group dwell on for too long.

The attentions always turn quickly to the next challenge, a mindset Rodgers instilled in his squad during his first spell before reintroducing it second time around.

Marshalled by captain Callum McGregor and our now most decorated player James Forrest - with a combined 1000-plus Celtic appearances between them - he has the perfect on-field generals to carry his message.

So what is that 'next challenge?' Well, in the immediate term it's sealing the treble, and to do so we'll need to take care of what looks like a resurgent Aberdeen in next month's Scottish Cup Final.

But beyond that, what are the targets for the club under a manager who says he'll "200%" be here next season?

The league title will always be a priority and that'll certainly top the list as we set out for five in a row.

But what else? As much as we've been spoiled by trebles in recent times - we're now targeting our sixth since Rodgers first arrived in 2016 - we can't expect to chalk off such an achievement every single season (can we…?).

So Europe, naturally, is where we must now be setting our sights. And while the progression in this season's Champions League was clear to see, can we do better?

The short answer is yes, but to do so there must be clear and unified ambition shown throughout the club.

We know how important it is to the manager. And we can see how much it motivates the players to showcase their talents at the top table. So it then all comes down to how much the club want to push the boat out.

Credit should be given for backing Rodgers with recent acquisitions such as Arne Engels (£11m), Adam Idah (£9m) and Jota (£8m) – all who have scored goals at Champions League level – and it shows shopping at a higher level will generally bring its own rewards.

We won't get every signing right but if as a club we can now be that bit braver, and that bit bolder, then it's almost certain the manager will make us that bit better - and that should be something that excites all of us.

This Celtic team aren't finished yet, far from it. To quote a popular manager from our recent past, we may just be getting started.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Young player of the year nominee Arne Engels says Celtic's title success is like "a drug" as he eyes more honours.

The 21-year-old midfielder's debut season in Scotland has already resulted in a league and League Cup double, with the chance to make it a treble when Celtic face Aberdeen in next month's Scottish Cup final.

Having never lifted a trophy in senior football before signing for Celtic last summer, Belgium international Engels now can't get enough of the kind of scenes he witnessed at Parkhead over the weekend, when thousands of fans descended on Glasgow' east end to welcome their heroes home after the Premiership was sealed at Tannadice.

"It's an amazing feeling," he said. "It's my first so I cannot wait to get other ones. It's like a bit of a drug - you want to achieve so much and win so much. It's an amazing feeling."

Has this been a dream debut season at Celtic for Engels, who cost a club record £11m from Augsburg last summer?

"We'll see at the end of the season, he added. "There's still one more trophy to go. We're just looking forward to that and working hard to perform really well.

"You need to have the right mindset now for the next games and keep yourself busy, focused and sharp so you can be there whenever you need to be."

That mindset has already switched to the trip to Ibrox on Sunday for a derby that can have no meaningful impact on a Premiership Celtic have already won.

No Celtic players are taking their foot off the gas however, given they have lost the past two meetings with Rangers.

"We want to win every game, not just the Rangers games, otherwise you cannot be champions," said Engels.

"Of course it's a big game and also for us because we lost the last two. Everybody was really disappointed about those two games so it's up to us now to take our revenge."

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There are fears injured Celtic winger Jota is facing a race against time to be fit for the start of next season. (Scottish Sun), external

Celtic are finalising plans for a home summer friendly against Newcastle United in July. (iNews)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Could Celtic's potential treble-winning campaign be called a "bad season" if the champions lose at Ibrox at the weekend?

Club captain Calum McGregor admits that may sound "silly" but accepts three derby defeats would lead some critics to come to that conclusion.

There may not be a great deal to play for with the Premiership trophy officially won now but McGregor is adamant there's still plenty on the line, with 2,500 Celtic supporters heading to the home of their bitter rivals on Sunday.

"That's the nature of playing football in Glasgow," McGregor said. "You can only have one team doing well. That's the optics of it, that's what you have to live with and understand as well.

"We could finish the season with three trophies and if we lose the game on Sunday, people will interpret it as being a bad season. That's a bit silly but it's part of what you have to live with, being a player for Rangers or Celtic.

"Everything rides on these games. The players understand that. We've suffered in the last couple and we want to put the record straight, from our point of view.

"That's the reality of football in Scotland. It can verge on being silly and if that's the case, so be it.

"It doesn't take away from the fact that that's what some people will think. You want to try to prove as many doubters wrong as possible and that's the bit the players enjoy as well."

The driving factor for the club captain and his colleagues? No Celtic team has ever won the title while losing three derbies to Rangers in the same season. McGregor has no intention of being the first Parkhead skipper to claim that record.

Watch as the Sportscene team analyse manager Brendan Rodgers' impact as Celtic claim a 55th top-flight title.

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Celtic trio Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda and Nicolas Kuhn are in the running for this season's PFA Scotland player of the year award.

Dundee's Simon Murray is the other player vying for the trophy while Celtic's Arne Engels, 21, is up for young player of the season along with Rangers' Hamza Igamane, Hearts' James Wilson and Motherwell's Lennon Miller.

Maeda and Murray top the Premiership scoring chart with 16 goals each, while Maeda also leads the way for assists, on nine with team-mate Alistair Johnston.

Kuhn is one behind with eight league assists and has scored 12 goals to boot.

Captain McGregor has just celebrated his tenth title success with Celtic.

The 31-year-old midfielder previously won the top prize in 2022.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Celtic secured their 55th league title with a thumping 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday, and they have got four players in my team of the week as a result.

Alastair Johnston is always defensively sound and so often an attacking asset as he proved with an assist at Tannadice.

There was an impressive return to form for German winger Nicolas Kuhn. After a spell in the doldrums he was back to his dangerous best against United.

No goals for once but two assists and another wonderful display from my pick for player of the year Daizen Maeda.

Adam Idah took his two goals well. His overall performance this season has been much debated but at his best the Republic of Ireland international is a potent force.

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It's official, Celtic are Scottish Premiership champions for the 13th time in 14 seasons following their victory at Dundee United on Saturday.

It means manager Brendan Rodgers has wrapped up a fourth top-flight crown in Scotland and a fourth straight league title for the Parkhead club

Here, BBC Scotland looks at some of the numbers behind another top-tier triumph.

Early victory

Going by the calendar, the earliest Celtic have won the title was back in 2014 when they sealed victory on 26 March with seven Premiership games remaining.

This season, they have won it a month later with a 17-point margin and four games to spare after winning their first post-split fixture.

Magnificent Maeda

Celtic's Daizen Maeda is the Premiership's joint top scorer this season, despite playing mainly on the wing until fellow Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi was sold to Rennes during the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old has 16 goals from 31 appearances - level with Dundee striker Simon Murray, who has played three games more.

Maeda also lead the assists table along with team-mate Alistair Johnston, with both of them on nine, meaning the forward's total league goal contributions stand at 25 for the season.

Resolute defence, goals galore & ball hogging

As the saying goes, "attack wins games, defence wins titles." Well, Celtic have both.

In 21 of their 34 league games, they have kept a clean sheet and conceded just 22 goals in total.

And at the other end, they are set to break their best goalscoring league season given they are already on 102 goals and their current record stands at 114.

Teams have a hard time getting the ball off Celtic, too. The champions have averaged 75% possession across their Premiership matches this term.

A 55th top-flight title

Celtic have ended a 95-year wait to draw level again with Rangers' total of titles.

Their 55th league title, added to 42 Scottish Cups, 22 League Cups and one European Cup, takes their total of major trophies to 120 - now two more than Rangers - with 43 of those honours coming since 2000.

It makes the Parkhead side the second most successful team in the world behind Egyptian club Al-Ahly, who are on 125.

Relentless Rodgers adds 11th trophy

Rodgers has now won the Scottish title in each of his four seasons at Celtic.

Indeed, he has now won 11 of the 12 domestic trophies in which his side have competed during that time - the only miss being last season's League Cup, won by Rangers.

Only Aberdeen - in the Scottish Cup final - can prevent Rodgers becoming the first Celtic manager to win three domestic trebles.

The Northern Irishman is the third most successful manager in the club's history, with only Willie Maley (30) and Jock Stein (25) winning more.

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Following title-clinching victory at Dundee United, which means Celtic winger James Forrest is now the club's most decorated player of all time, he told BBC Scotland: "It's hard to put into words, it's a really good achievement. It shows the commitment from everyone.

"The club speaks for itself, wherever you go its recognised, so to play a small part in that is unbelievable. It comes from being here in such a successful era with so many great players with so many good managers.

"You work together through all the good and bad times and I feel as though I have had so may ups. Hopefully I have more to come."

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Following the title-clinching victory at Dundee United, Celtic captain Callum McGregor told BBC Scotland: "Every one is special. Again, the performance level, the way we did it, getting across the line in style.

That's what we wanted before the game, to go and really sprint across the line. We've done that and then that gives us that feeling as a group that all the hard work and sacrifice has paid off.

"You have to cherish it and live in the moment as much as you can because some day it'll all be over and you'll never get the chance to do it again. The players have been amazing, so proud of everyone.

"We've got four league games to go, we want to finish in style, we want to be sprinting across the line and then obviously we want to arrive into the cup final in the best possible moment.

"If we do that, we turn up, we do the right things, it can be a special season for us."

On record-breaker James Forrest: "He is unbelievable, what a legend. Somebody so humble and what he's achieved at this club throughout his career, he just keeps going and going and going.

"Honestly, what a top professional. So happy for him and it couldn't happen to a better guy. It shows you the level of success we've had since we've been here together and we just keep feeding off each other every year."

On manager Brendan Rodgers: "The way he works, how hard he works, the dedication he puts in. He dedicates his life to football and this club as well, so I'm so proud of him.

"He deserves that and the way he pushes the group, the way he pushes the club, he's never wanted to rest on what he's achieved before and he keeps doing that to the players as well.

"He keeps testing us all the time and that's a testament to his mental strength and the way that he works."

We asked for your views on Celtic's league triumph as a 5-0 win against Dundee United secured a fourth straight Scottish Premiership title.

Here's what some of you said:

Chris: The best team in Scotland bar none. An unprecedented 55 league titles and it ranks just as important as the previous 54. Daizen Maeda will get player of the year and deservedly so.

Mike: Celtic are so far ahead of every other club in Scotland, both on and off the pitch. They deserve all the praise and congratulations they receive.

Charles: What a season! Incredible. Maybe Celtic should go to the Premier League because they are to good for Scotland.

Kevin: Celtic win the league again, congratulations. I have to say, though, there isn't enough competition, especially with a very poor Rangers team. A lot of people say Celtic and Rangers should be in the English Premier League, but the league would have to have 22 teams - no way should they replace two English clubs.

Tom: Another wonderful day to be a Celtic supporter. Is Brendan Rodgers finally forgiven? What a pity the 10th title was lost. No not lost, squandered.

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• Celtic have scored in 31 of their 34 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee United have a record of W0, D0, L4 when conceding the opening goal at home in the Premiership this season.

• Celtic have avoided defeat in their last 43 matches when scoring first in the Premiership, since a 1-2 loss to Kilmarnock on 10 December 2023.

• Dundee United have failed to win any of their last five matches when conceding first in the Premiership, since a victory over Dundee on 2 January 2025.