Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has explained the key role his coaches played in this afternoon’s Premier Sports Cup final penalty shootout victory over Rangers.
It was a topsy-turvy tie at Hampden Park this afternoon, from which the Hoops eventually emerged victorious.
Nedim Bajrami opened the scoring at the end of the first half before Greg Taylor and Daizen Maeda scored within a few minutes to quickly put the Hoops ahead by the hour mark.
Mohamed Diomande then drew the Gers level, and Nicolas Kuhn looked to have won it late on, although Danilo instantly replied to take the game to extra time.
Celtic eventually prevailed on penalties, with Maeda’s spot-kick proving the winner. Along with the electric Japanese winger, Adam Idah, Arne Engels, Callum McGregor, and Reo Hatate perfectly dispatched for the Bhoys.
Post-match, boss Rodgers explained the key role his coaches played in the shootout triumph: “Once we got around to the penalties, it was very clear, we do the work, we understand who’s taking [them] and in what order,” he said (Premier Sports).
“The coaching staff, all the staff, but the coaching staff, on a day to day, for me, are absolutely brilliant.”
Celtic have now won two penalty shootouts in the space of eight months after they beat Aberdeen at Hampden on spot kicks in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup in April.
Today was a similarly emotionally toiling afternoon for everyone within the ground, and eventually, the Celts came away victorious.
Rodgers and Co. will celebrate deep into this evening before shifting their focus to Dundee United next weekend.
