Celtic

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers: "You are always disappointed when you draw a game that you should win.

"We didn't work the keeper enough but the players gave everything. In these types of games, if you don't get the early goal it gives the opposition something to hold on to.

"We had to make a lot of changes and the players that came in were really secure.

"Both sets of players dealt with the wind really well, because it was a real challenge.

"We are greedy to win every game but nine points clear, with a trophy in the cabinet, and doing well in the Champions League, it's been a good period for us."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Tannadice

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Celtic were missing key men. They have depth in the squad but that left questions that weren't fully answered although the visitors came close to another victory.

The absence of Alistair Johnston and Nicolas Khun in particular down the right resulted in far less threat in that area, with Anthony Ralston and Hyun-jun Yang simply not offering the same link-up and quality going forward.

A lack of game-time no doubt contributed to that as did the increasingly windy conditions.

But Brendan Rodgers does enjoy a squad full of quality and it looked likely to eventually prove decisive. The failure to find a breakthrough was not for a lack of trying.

The result is far from a significant blow given the lead Celtic enjoy at the top, but offers a glimmer of hope to those hoping to mount a challenge.

Scotland defender Kieran Tierney has been linked with a return to Celtic, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said the 27-year-old has not yet asked to leave. (Teamtalk), external

Arne Engels insists Celtic could still have triumphed in last weekend's Premier Sports Cup final even if Rangers had been awarded a penalty in the second period of extra-time when the scoreline was 3-3. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee United will be without striker Louis Moult, who damaged shoulder ligaments in last week's defeat at Motherwell.

Will Ferry is available after suspension, while Ross Docherty (calf) and Craig Sibbald (groin) are still out.

Celtic winger James Forrest is facing six weeks on the sidelines with a foot injury, while Alistair Johnston could miss out with a minor hip issue.

Luke McCowan returns to contention after being cup-tied for last weekend's Premier Sports Cup final.

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Brendan Rodgers is relishing his first trip to Tannadice as Celtic visit Dundee United on Sunday.

Despite being in his second spell in charge of the Glasgow club, Rodgers has never been in the dugout at Tannadice.

He takes his side to Dundee hoping to maintain their spot at the top of the table going into the Christmas break.

"I'm really looking forward to going there," the Celtic manager said.

"I've never been to Tannadice, not faced them as a manager. But I know the history of Dundee United growing up from following Celtic, what they [United] were back then and how tough a place it was to go.

"But I expect a tough game as well. I think Jim's [Goodwin] organised his team ever so well. They mix the game up, how they play. So we go there knowing that we have to be really good in the game and that's what we aim to be."

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Brendan Rodgers is still hopeful Greg Taylor will extend his Celtic stay, although he knows it is "one of the last big contracts" of the 27-year-old's career.

The Scotland defender's deal expires in the summer and he is free to speak to other clubs next month.

"When you want to build the squads, it's never just about starters, it's about the whole squad and you want depth," manager Rodgers said.

"He's a player that I've really enjoyed working with so much on and off the pitch, and I've said it before and I'll repeat, I really want him to to stay.

"I'm hoping that between the club and his representatives that we can organise a deal, but I also understand he's 27 and this would be one of the last big contracts of his career, so he has to make sure that everything is right.

"What I do know is I really want him to be here. I love working with him. He's really important for us."

The Celtic manager flew to Dublin after the League Cup final success to meet with owner Dermot Desmond to discuss the upcoming January window.

"You don't wait for the future to plan for it," Rodgers added. "The great aspect of here, we have a board and a major shareholder who are so invested in the club and the success of the club and how they lead the club.

"You only need to look over the last couple of decades, how the club has been run and organised, which is at the very, very highest level of any business.

"There's also a real passion for the team clearly to do well. That's so important. Dermot is absolutely entrenched in the whole role as a major shareholder of Celtic, but also as a supporter.

"First thing he does when he gets up in the morning is think about Celtic and last thing at night, he thinks about Celtic."

Chris Bertram
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Scottish Premiership game at Dundee United.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Winger James Forrest will be out for six weeks as a result of what Rodgers described as "a real bad blow" in the League Cup final. Alistair Johnston could miss out at Tannadice and there are some "bugs in the camp".

• When asked about a move for ex-Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, who is out of contract at Arsenal in the summer, Rodgers said "we will always be linked with good players and Kieran is one of us, so naturally because of his situation he will be linked with us".

• The manager, who paid tribute to the "passion and unswerving commitment" of Dermot Desmond, said he flew to Dublin to discuss January transfer plans with the Celtic owner.

• On the fallout from the decision not to award Rangers a penalty in the League Cup final, Rodgers said "there will always be issues around VAR - it's still ultimately a human decision". He praised referees chief Willie Collum for trying to be more transparent.

• He saluted the mental strength and consistency of the team for the Hampden win and added: "There is always a narrative after Old Firm games - the most important thing is that you go there and win... I'm only worried about winning. In the pressure moments, this team delivers."

• Rodgers reiterated his hope that Greg Taylor will stay beyond the summer but that some players could leave in January in search of regular football and that "Stephen Welsh may be one of those".

• Rodgers is expecting a stern challenge and is relishing his first trip to Tannadice, saying "I know the history of Dundee United growing up - Jim [Goodwin] has organised his team ever so well and they mix it up so it will be a tough challenge."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Will Sunday prove to be a happy anniversary for United?

It will be almost exactly a decade since Celtic last lost at Tannadice, when goals from Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong - who would both go on to play for the visitors - put United on their way to victory before a late Leigh Griffiths reply.

That was on Sunday, 21 December 2014 and Tannadice has been a happy hunting ground since then for the Glasgow side, who are unbeaten there in 11 visits, winning seven and scoring 18 goals in their last five.

Half of them came in a famous victory in August 2022, with striker Kyogo Furuhashi - who is one of five survivors of the starting line-up that day still in the squad - grabbing a hat-trick.

Celtic would go on to win their 53rd Scottish league title that season and can concentrate on consolidating their pole position in this campaign after securing their first silverware of the season with Sunday's League Cup final thriller against Rangers.

Brendan Rodgers' side arrive on Tayside for their first meeting of the season with United unbeaten in 15 games, seven of them away from Celtic Park, since that 7-1 Champions League hammering by Borussia Dortmund.

That remains their only defeat in 25 matches this season.

With second-place Aberdeen and Rangers both at home on Saturday, Celtic may find their lead at the top has been reduced by the time it comes to the noon kick-off on Sunday, but there have been no signs this season of that kind of pressure having any effect on Rodgers' side.

Being nine points ahead of the Dons - and two more clear of their city rivals - gives plenty of leeway in any case as they seek a 10th consecutive away league victory.

Indeed, with 14 wins and a draw, this is Celtic's joint best start to a league season after 15 games - matching seasons 2001-02, 2003-04, and 2016-17.

They are also undefeated in 19 meetings overall against United, who lost 4-3 at Motherwell on Saturday to relinquish fourth place to their hosts.

However, a visit to Tannadice should still be one of Celtic's toughest domestic tests, with Jim Goodwin's promoted side having gone into that Motherwell match on a five-game unbeaten run of their own.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has suggested that SFA referees chief Willie Collum should be in the VAR booth for crucial matches such as cup finals. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Friday's gossip.

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"Buzzing" Anthony Ralston insists the penalty controversy that has rumbled on since Sunday hasn't put "any dampener" on Celtic's League Cup joy.

Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has described the "really poor" decision not to award Rangers an extra-time spot-kick as an "unacceptable" error by the VAR officials.

Defender Liam Scales fouled Vaclav Cerny on the edge of Celtic's box when the scores were tied at 3-3 at Hampden. Referee John Beaton awarded a foul, although replays showed the infringement was inside the area, and Celtic went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

Defender Ralston said: "I don't feel it has put any sort of dampener on our success. We're all buzzing, we're all extremely happy with the outcome of the game.

"We got our hands on the trophy and that's all we really care about to be honest, everything else is not something that we're going to overly pay attention to. It's not obviously our place to do that.

"From my point of view, I didn't really look too much into it after the game. There was an on-field decision made at the time, which isn't down to us to make as players.

"There wasn't much said about it until after the game, when ultimately we'd won.

"So it's part and parcel of football. And, I can speak on behalf of the other lads, we don't take much to do with it. Let the officials do that side of it."

Celtic's triumph moved them to 119 trophies, one ahead of Rangers.

Ralston said: "It's an important point in our history and as a club and we're delighted to be able to deliver that to the fans all around the world.

"It's a special thing. It's another marker for us as a group of players and we want to keep delivering success, and that's what drives us every day to do that."

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• Dundee United are winless in 19 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D4 L15) since a 2-1 league win in December 2014 under Jackie McNamara.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 11 away games against Dundee United in all competitions (W8 D3), keeping a clean sheet in six of their last seven.

• Only Rangers (22), Aberdeen (22), and Celtic (19) have earned more points at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee United (14).

• With 14 wins and a draw, this is Celtic's joint best start to a league season after 15 games, also picking up 14 victories and a draw in 2001-02, 2003-04, and 2016-17.

• Celtic have won their last 10 away league outings, last winning more in succession on the road in April 2017 (12).

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Rangers say the officiating failure in the League Cup final is "hugely disappointing" and "damaging for the credibility of Scottish football more widely".

The Ibrox club have released a statement in response to Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum admitting VAR officials made a ''really, really poor'' and "unacceptable" decision not to award Rangers a penalty against Celtic in Sunday's final.

There was no VAR intervention when Rangers, who lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw, were awarded a free-kick in extra time when Liam Scales was penalised by referee John Beaton for a pull on Vaclav Cerny on the edge of the Celtic box.

Replays showed the infringement continued inside the area.

An Ibrox spokesperson said: "Rangers notes the Scottish FA's admission of an officiating failure following the non-award of a penalty to Rangers in Sunday's Premier Sports Cup final and welcomes the transparency from the Scottish FA.

"However, for such a failure to occur during one of Scotland's showcase matches is not only hugely disappointing for the club and its supporters, but also damaging for the credibility of Scottish football more widely.

"We acknowledge the Scottish FA's determination to use this and other decision-making failures as opportunities to drive improvements in officiating standards.

"As a club, we will continue to engage with the Scottish FA in an attempt to improve officiating standards for the benefit of all clubs in Scotland."

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Celtic are in pole position to bring Kieran Tierney back from Arsenal in January despite facing difficulty over a six-figure weekly wage and likely Premier League interest in the Scotland defender when the 27-year-old's current contract ends next summer. (Sun), external

The left-back, who can also play centre-back, currently earns in excess of £120,000 a week at Arsenal. (Mail), external

Tierney will leave Arsenal next summer at the latest after the Premier League club decided against using an option to extend the Scotland defender's contract and he is free to agree a contract with non-English clubs in January or possibly move permanently. (The Athletic), external

Glasgow City Council has no concerns about the temporary alcohol licence that has been granted to Rangers before Celtic's 2 January Scottish Premiership visit despite the trouble that occurred in the city over the weekend surrounding the League Cup final between the two clubs at Hampden. (Herald - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Now the celebrations have died down, there will be an air of quiet satisfaction around Celtic Park.

With green and white ribbons adorning Scottish football's first domestic prize and progress in the Champions League tantalisingly close, Brendan Rodgers couldn't have done much more.

The only box not ticked? A perfect record for the first 15 matches. Forty-three points from 45 doesn't fall far short, though.

So where do Celtic go from here?

From a position of some strength, the Parkhead hierarchy will be expected to build. They're about to enter one of the most critical transfer windows in the club's recent history.

Next summer, for the first time in four years, Celtic will have to qualify for the Champions League whether they finish first or second this season.

They will need to be ready to hit the ground running as soon as pre-season starts, which means the manager will want to strengthen early in the year to make sure he can bed players in properly before trying to negotiate tricky European qualifiers.

The knock-on effect for everyone else in Scottish football is potentially daunting. An already deep squad, with decent cover in every position, may well be bolstered yet further.

A big lead in the league, a trophy already in the cabinet and a bank balance healthier than it ever has been. There is much to admire about the way the club has gone about its business, especially when it comes to the manager.

A year ago, the natives were more than a little restless. Many of them had not rolled out the red carpet for the return of Rodgers. Now that he has three of the last four domestic trophies, few fans have any issue at all with his presence.

He hit a few speed bumps on the road when he first arrived back, but he's cruising in the fast lane now. The momentum he's building will take some stopping.

Even a very good Rangers performance at Hampden last weekend couldn't stop the Celtic juggernaut.

They haven't reached top speed in the past few weeks yet still found ways to get over the line. Any time things have properly clicked, opponents have been hit for five and six.

A year is indeed a long time in football. It feels a lot longer than 12 months since the side was booed off at home, even in victory.

The worrying thing for those in Celtic's rear-view mirror now is the realisation that such success has become habitual.

If Rodgers' Parkhead project continues to gather speed, the distance to anyone in the chasing pack could soon become insurmountable.

Rangers are showing significant signs of improvement. Aberdeen are as good as they've been in years. The problem for everyone else, so it would seem, is so are Celtic.

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There wasn't much Neil Lennon could do to get on Martin O'Neill's bad side.

Even when the former Celtic boss caught the ex-captain doing an impression of him, he was let off the hook, Alan Stubbs recalls.

When O'Neill was appointed manager of the Parkhead side, he was desperate to bring Lennon, who played under his fellow Northern Irishman at Leicester, to the club.

After six months in Glasgow, Lennon and O'Neill were reunited and the pair went on to enjoy huge success, winning three top-flight titles, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup together in Scotland.

"Neil was Martin's lovechild," ex-Celtic defender Stubbs told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast. "O'Neill loved Lenny and Lenny could get away with everything.

"Lenny used to always do a great impression of Martin. When we were out he'd get a pair of glasses, slide the glasses down his nose and you would actually think it was Martin talking.

"There were a couple of times Martin walked in the room and Lenny's actually been doing it. He'd just give Lenny the look without saying anything."

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Zak Lovelace netted a late winner as Rangers B team edged their Celtic counterparts 3-2 to lift the Glasgow Cup at the City Stadium.

The Ibrox side - featuring first-team players Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo - twice led through Paul Nsio and Cole McKinnon.

Daniel Cummings and Samuel Isiguzo levelled for Celtic before substitute Lovelace struck the 87th-minute winner as penalties loomed.

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Paulo Bernardo says Celtic's League Cup success has fuelled their hunger to keep the silverware coming this season.

Brendan Rodgers' side lifted the first trophy of the campaign on Sunday after beating Rangers 5-4 on penalties following a 3-3 Hampden thriller.

The defending champions are already galloping clear in the Premiership - with a nine-point lead over second-place Aberdeen - and on course to reach the Champions League play-offs as well as having the Scottish Cup to defend in the new year.

"It was the first of the season, we want more," Portuguese midfielder Bernardo told Celtic TV.

"We are focused on the next game. We won the trophy two days ago, so it gives us a lot of confidence for the next months."

Bernardo believes Celtic's winning mentality helped drag them to glory in Sunday's final.

"I think it's down to our mentality," he said. "It was a very good victory because we never backed down. We fought until the end and we got the result in the penalties, so it was really important to us.

"It was a really tough game. We had more ball and we had more shots on target [than Rangers]. We know we can play a little bit better football and we will try to do it in the next game.

"But finals are about winning. We did it and we are very happy."

Tino
Fan writer

In the aftermath of Sunday's exhilarating (but exhausting) League Cup final, Brendan Rodgers said the outcome on the day came down to two key factors.

A strong mentality, and a strong desire to win. His Celtic side have both qualities in abundance.

It is generally accepted that the team who scores first in a cup final more often than not goes on to lift the trophy. But someone forgot to tell Daizen Maeda. And Kasper Schmeichel. And Cameron Carter-Vickers.

There's no doubt Celtic were below their best and the sharpness and intricate passing we've enjoyed during the season so far was largely lacking at a windswept Hampden.

Moments of slackness contributed to all three of Rangers' goals, a fact that will have given cause for concern to both the manager and fans.

However, in football sometimes it is less about the errors you make, and more about how you respond to them that can make all the difference.

Greg Taylor made a huge mistake in the lead-up to Rangers' opening goal, and then followed up with a repeat that almost saw us go two down.

And while he had Carter-Vickers to thank for saving the day on that occasion it was Taylor's own desire to atone for his errors that was most impressive.

While others may choose to hide and play safe he continued to show for the ball in tight areas and ultimately was the man who dragged us back in to the game with his 56th minute strike.

Massive goals then followed from the machine that is Daizen Maeda, and the clinical Nicolas Kuhn, and we all thought we were headed for a stress-free Sunday.

However, that wasn't to be and so the Bhoys had to again regroup and refocus for what would eventually become 'the lottery' of a penalty shootout.

A lottery, however, is described as a game of chance, and if anyone thinks that the execution of Celtic's five perfect penalties, and the heroics of Schmeichel - all at the Rangers end of Hampden - were anything to do with luck then they haven't been watching closely enough.

It takes character, bravery and belief to finish off a contest in such a way but these are the characteristics of a Rodgers side, and of a side who continue to write their own piece of Celtic history.

And while we fans will bask in the glory of this one for a few days yet, Rodgers has already turned attentions to Dundee Utd this weekend.

That, as they say, is why we're champions.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Despite rumours that on-loan Alex Valle could be recalled by Barcelona in January, the left-back will not leave Celtic until the end of the season, with the 20-year-old expecting to return a better player and hoping to remain with the La Liga club next term. (Mundo Deportivo), external

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard are among those listed by bookmakers as possible replacements for sacked ex-Scotland defender Russell Martin at Southampton. (The Scotsman), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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