“The team’s been pretty stable really. Today was quite straightforward really, just waiting to see if Scotty (Sinclair) was fit. Unfortunately for him he misses out on a cup final which is a shame for him.

“Of course you get judged as a manager on trophies and winning, but there’s many extraordinary people in the world, great people, who never have a trophy in their life. 

"I think from a personal perspective it doesn’t bother me in terms of what I want to achieve as a coach. What gratifies me is seeing the team improve, seeing players improve and seeing them win. I think I’ve shown since I’ve came in here that that’s what we aim to do. 

"We want to win, we want to win trophies and if we can give that joy to the players and the supporters then that’s what gives me the privilege and makes me very happy.”

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers on BBC Radio Scotland

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Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland at Hampden

You have to assume that at some stage this season Celtic are going to lose a domestic game. To go through the entire campaign without suffering a loss would be incredible even allowing for all the advantages they hold over their rivals. Aberdeen look best-placed to pull off that victory given that they did it twice last season.

Celtic have been weakened by the loss of Scott Sinclair, a totem for Brendan Rodgers' team. Aberdeen will feel good about that. To pull off an upset they need to be totally clinical when their chances come. They may not have many. Ruthlessness is the order of the day for the Dons. They lost 4-1 to Celtic at Parkhead and lost 1-0 at Celtic Park. In both of those matches they survived on less than 40% possession. That won't be good enough today.

The Dons will have to be aggressive and intense if they want to rattle Celtic's cage. They may also need to score first. Celtic aren't used to trailing domestically. It's only happened once this season - and that ended in a 6-1 win over Kilmarnock. Aberdeen will have to instil doubt in the heads of Celtic players who must be full of certainty given how strong they have been in Scotland.

How do you see the final unfolding? Will Celtic justify their status as favourites, or will Aberdeen hand them their first domestic defeat of the season?

And which player will emerge as the Hampden hero?

Tweet us @BBCSportScot, tweet me @BBCAndyBurke, leave a comment at the BBC Sport Scotland Facebook page or text us on 80295.

Where will the League Cup final be won and lost?

Our Sportscene panel of David Currie, Michael Stewart and Michael Grant discuss which players could make the difference at Hampden.

Niall McGinn on the bench for Aberdeen, while Scott Sinclair misses out through injury for Celtic....

Here are a few match stats to mull over ahead of the big one at Hampen:

• Celtic have won their last nine domestic fixtures in league and cup.

• Aberdeen have won eight of their last 10 games, but one of the two defeats during that time was by Celtic.

• Celtic have won their last three meetings with Aberdeen.

• Celtic have won the League Cup on 15 occasions, the last being in 2015.

• Aberdeen have won the League Cup six times, the last being in 2014.

• The two sides have met in the League Cup 27 times, with Celtic winning 14 and Aberdeen nine.

• Celtic and Aberdeen last met in a League Cup final in 2000, with the Glasgow side winning 2-0.

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Well we are still a month away from Christmas and yet here we are gearing up for the first major cup final of the season.

Aberdeen and Celtic are preparing to do battle at Hampden with the season's first piece of silverware on the line.

Derek McInnes is hoping to replicate Aberdeen's League Cup success of 2014 - which came at the home of today's rivals - while Brendan Rodgers is looking to claim his first trophy since becoming Celtic manager.

We have arguably the two best teams in the country going head-to-head and it has the makings of a cracking cup final. Stick with us throughout the afternoon as we bring every moment of the action from Hampden.

Image source, SNS