Former striker Scott McDonald, who won two trophies with Celtic during his three-year spell, hails the impact of Brendan Rodgers in the manager's first season back in Glasgow which culminates with the Scottish Cup final against Rangers on Saturday.
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Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSCallum McGregor says he is drilling the importance of relentlessly pursing silverware into this Celtic team-mates ahead of the Scottish Cup final.
The captain has won 12 trophies so far during his career-long stint at the club, including five Scottish Cups - a tally he will hope to take to six when the skipper leads his side against Rangers on Saturday.
Despite being a veteran of the Old Firm derby, Celtic's first meeting with their rivals in the showpiece final in 22 years has McGregor excited.
"We go into the game full of confidence, we understand it's a massive challenge," the 30-year-old midfielder said.
"The last 10 days have put us in a nice place and hopefully we can finish it with a double.
"I've been very lucky and fortunate. I'm proud of what I've achieved. But the nature of being at Celtic, the next trophy on offer, you're under pressure to deliver.
"I try to get the players to understand when you play for this football club, it demands success. Saturday is another opportunity for us to make a lot of people happy.
"It's a great occasion. it's great showpiece for Scottish football. This is why you play football. If this doesn't get you excited, you're probably in the wrong sport.
Celtic are lining up a renewed bid for Besiktas' Ghana midfielder Daniel Amartey, who played for Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City (Scottish Sun)
An English top-flight team is the favourites to sign Matt O'Riley, with the Scottish Cup final set to be his last game in a Celtic jersey. (Scottish Sun)
Rodgers has revealed he wanted to bring Europa League final hat-trick hero Ademola Lookman to Celtic in 2016 - but was priced out of the move. (TalkSport)
Anthony Ralston would be a great option for Scotland on the right side of the defence even if Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson were not injured, according to Rodgers. (The Herald)
Ipswich captain Sam Morsy, who led his side back to the Premier League last season, has been spotted wearing a Celtic top in a post-season training session in Dubai. (Scottish Sun)
Read the rest of Friday's gossip.
Image source, BBC SportKheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSAdam Idah has been the "catalyst" for Celtic's title-winning upturn in form, says manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Republic of Ireland international joined on loan from Norwich City in January and has scored eight goals in 17 appearances for the Premiership champions.
With the Scottish Cup final against Rangers looming, Rodgers says he's confident in the abilities of either Idah or Kyogo Furuhashi to lead the line at Hampden.
"I wanted two players that have top end qualities that I can use in different types of games," he said.
"Adam has been the real catalyst for us since he came in, there's no question about it.
"He's elevated the team and he's elevated Kyogo's game, because Kyogo's got someone there who's a real talent and is only going to get better.
"Being able to put him in, to either start the game or bring him in to give Kyogo a rest, it's been great to have that.
"I just know whichever one I play, or I have to bring one off the bench, they'll be ready."
'Forrest had to cancel holiday' - Rodgers
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reveals James Forrest has cancelled his summer holiday after being included in Steve Clarke's provisional Scotland squad for the Euros.
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSCeltic manager Brendan Rodgers has been facing the media ahead of Saturday's Scottish Cup final against Rangers at Hampden.
Here are the key points:
Insists there will be no "arrogance" about Celtic going into this game, despite his side's dominance in Old Firm derbies this term.
Adamant he’d prepare the same way for the game whether it was Rangers or Raith Rovers waiting at Hampden.
Expresses his delight that James Forrest has been recalled by Scotland, in addition to the expected inclusions of full-backs Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston, as well as captain Callum McGregor.
Adds he never doubted Forrest’s ‘"talent" but because the winger had become peripheral due to the arrival of Jota, Liel Abada and Daizen Maeda, he had to fight his way back from the fringes.
Also compliments Ralston, who hopes to join Forrest on the plane to the Euros when the final Scotland squad is named. Rodgers says the right-back will "feature more for me next season" and has never let Celtic or Scotland down.
Keen to talk up on-loan striker Adam Idah who has “elevated the team’s game” and “elevated Kyogo’s game”. The Celtic manager feels the Republic of Ireland international has "been a real catalyst" for the side’s recent upturn in form since his arrival in January.
Celtic are at full strength for the final. Stephen Welsh injured his shoulder against St Mirren last week, but has trained the last few days.
Image source, SNSJames Forrest says he's looking to make more memories with Scotland after being named in the provisional squad for the Euros.
The winger's incredible end-of-season form caught the eye of national team boss Steve Clarke, who praised the 32-year-old as a role model to young footballers.
Forrest, whose previous most recent call-up came in 2021, says he's reaping the benefits for a successful period with Celtic.
"It's a massive bonus after the last couple of months," he told club media. "It's a great experience to go away with the national team for the Euros.
"I know most of the boys in the squad even though it's been a few years since I've been in the squad. I'm really looking forward to it.
"People were talking and asking me questions, but I've just loved the last couple of months. I've been really enjoying my football. You reap rewards with the national team.
"I've always loved it. You do well for Celtic and you get in. I've got a lot of memories playing for Scotland. Hopefully I can make another memory in the summer."
Image source, SNSBrendan Rodgers hopes to send retiring goalkeeper Joe Hart "into the sunset" with another Scottish Cup under his belt.
The 37-year-old will play the final game of his professional career at Hampden Park on Saturday, as Celtic look to retain the trophy and add more silverware to THIS season's Premiership crown.
“I think that [motivation] will be there for Joe, there will certainly be an understanding of this being his last professional game,” Rodgers told Celtic TV.
“He’s been absolutely brilliant in his time here and we would all love to send him off into the sunset with another trophy to his collection and finish off what has been an absolutely incredible career.
“Joe is very focused. He’s won another league title and now he’s lasered in on helping the team win the Scottish Cup.”
The Northern Irish manager has warned against complacency at the national stadium, despite his side's rampant form in recent weeks.
“Our intent going into every game is to win, cup game or not," Rodgers added.
"There’s no second chances in a final and that’s our attitude. We arrive into it in really good form but that doesn’t mean anything.
“We still have to prepare thoroughly this week, look after all the details in the game and give the guys the best opportunity to be free to play the type of football that we want to play.”
Image source, SNSBrendan Rodgers' side have won four games to reach Saturday's Scottish Cup final, setting up a meeting with Glasgow rivals Rangers.
Here's how they made it to Hampden:
Celtic 5-0 Buckie Thistle:
Highland League side Buckie Thistle held out for 25 minutes at Celtic Park, before the hosts' quality shone through.
Goals for Paulo Bernardo, Odin Holm, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Rocco Vata secured safe passage to the fifth round, and a tie against top-flight St Mirren.
St Mirren 0-2 Celtic:
A first-half strike from Kyogo put Celtic in front in Paisley, and Daizen Maeda wrapped up the win with Celtic's second after the break.
It was a strong defensive performance against a St Mirren side who posed a real threat at times.
Celtic 4-2 Livingston:
In what appeared a fairly straightforward quarter-final tie, Celtic were given an almighty fright by Livingston, with the West Lothian side twice coming from behind to level at Parkhead.
Maeda put Celtic in front again late on to complete his hat-trick, before Kyogo added a fourth.
Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic (8-9 on penalties):
Celtic's spot in the final didn't come easily. Bojan Miovski put Aberdeen in front early on in the semi-final, before Nicolas Kuhn equalised for Rodgers' side.
Substitute James Forrest thought his curled finish had won it in normal time, but Ester Sokler's dramatic header in the 90th minute forced extra time.
A Matt O'Riley strike restored Celtic's lead but Angus MacDonald's 119th-minute header sent it to penalties.
Joe Hart had the chance to win it with Celtic's fifth spot-kick, after Ryan Duncan's effort hit the post, but the goalkeeper too struck the woodwork.
However, Hart made amends by saving Killian Phillips' effort and continue Rodgers' flawless Scottish Cup record.
Celtic are interested in 22-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk left-back Irakli Azarov along with a French Ligue 1 club and an Italian Serie A club. (Geo Team), external
Anderlecht will go all out to sign goalkeeper Koen Casteels, the 31-year-old Belgium goalkeeper who is interesting Celtic as he prepares to leave Wolfsburg at the end of his contract. (Niewsblad), external
Daniel Kelly will sit down with Celtic for more contract talks this week - despite interest in the 18-year-old midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen. (Football Scotland), external
We want to know how you're feeling about Saturday's Scottish Cup final.
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Image source, SNSFormer Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given says it would be a "fairytale" ending to Joe Hart's career if Celtic lift the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The game against Rangers will be the final game of Hart's illustrious career and Given - who played alongside him at Manchester City - was full of praise for the way the former number one goes about his business.
"Going to Celtic has been brilliant for him," Given told BBC Sport. "He has had an amazing career and he is finishing on a real high in Scotland.
"What a way it will be for him to go out if they win the Scottish Cup final as well as winning the league again. It would be fairytale stuff and he has earned it.
"I am a Celtic fan as well so I’ve been following him closely since he went there. The title looked like it was maybe slipping away, but they managed to hang in there.
"It is people like Joe with his experience and character that make such a difference in these situations.
"He has been there before, chasing teams down and winning the Premier League of course, and that experience and influence is so important off the pitch as well as off it. It’s been vital for Celtic in the last couple of seasons."
Having won two Premier League titles and an FA Cup with Manchester City, Hart is eyeing his seventh domestic trophy with Celtic on Saturday.
Given says plenty of Hart's success can be attributed to the way he backs himself to perform.
"Whatever has happened, the one thing he has always had as part of his make-up is confidence," Given added.
"I think you need to have that self-belief in what you are doing to have a long career like he has done. It is a lonely position sometimes because you are out there on your own.
"Joe has made mistakes like we all have, and that is part and parcel of the position we play in, but it is how you respond and react afterwards and he has been brilliant over the course of his career to keep a level head through good and bad times – that part has never changed."
Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
Celtic go into Saturday’s Scottish Cup final with so many factors stacked in their favour that it will take a monumental reversal of fortunes for Rangers to deny them the double following last weekend’s title celebrations.
The defeat at Tynecastle in early March, with Rangers moving top of the table, might have triggered a collapse in less mentally-strong squads, but instead Brendan Rodgers guided them to success, winning eight of their final nine league games, dropping points only in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox.
The league may not have been won in the swashbuckling fashion of last season, but the manner in which Celtic crossed the finishing line, battering Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, underlined their rightful status as champions again.
Now they have an opportunity to bag a 19th domestic trophy of the last 24 available – a haul that began with Rodgers’ first treble in 2016-17 – and a 42nd Scottish Cup overall (their sixth in eight seasons).
Add to that the manager’s remarkable record of never having lost at Hampden and his stranglehold over Rangers (losing just one of 17 encounters, winning 13) and there are plenty of reasons to believe Celtic will be celebrating again this weekend.
One way or another, it is sure to be a momentous occasion, with Joe Hart keen to end his three-year love affair with the club on a happy note and James Forrest aiming to surpass the legendary Billy McNeill’s record of 23 trophies with the club and move within one of Bobby Lennox’s record of 25 if they can lift the Scottish Cup.
Image source, SNSCeltic’s Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and James Forrest have all been named in Steve Clarke’s provisional 28-man Scotland squad for Euro 2024.
Forrest has played his way into the squad with a series of superb performances for Celtic in recent weeks as Brendan Rodgers’ side retained the Scottish Premiership title.
The 32-year-old has five international goals in 38 Scotland caps, but hasn’t played for his country since the 2-0 defeat by the Czech Republic at the last Euros in 2021.
McGregor, Ralston and Taylor have been regulars in recent Scotland squads, but Ralston could be in line to start the tournament at right wing-back given injuries to Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, who both miss out on a trip to Germany.
McGregor is likely to start in the heart of midfield, while Taylor is understudy to captain Andy Robertson at left-back.
The squad will be cut to 26 players before the tournament itself, where Scotland take on Germany (14 June), Switzerland (19 June) and Hungary (23 June) in Group A.
West Ham are ready to go head-to-head with Atletico Madrid in a bid to sign Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley, while Brighton and Everton are also keen on the 23-year-old. (Football Insider), external
Departing RKC Waalwijk goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen insists he is in no rush to decide his future amid speculation over a move to Celtic. (Daily Record), external
Celtic should aim to bring Fraser Forster back for a fifth spell, suggests the club's former striker John Hartson, with the 36-year-old goalkeeper out of the picture at Tottenham. (Go Radio via Football Scotland, external)
New Rapid Bucharest manager Neil Lennon is targeting former club Celtic for Stephen Welsh and wants fellow centre-half Ross Graham from Dundee United. (Scottish Sun), external
Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.
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