Former Celtic hero Kieran Tierney has revealed what current manager Brendan Rodgers said to the players before they thrashed Rangers 5-1 in 2016.
During his first spell as boss of the club, Rodgers enjoyed great prosperity in Glasgow derbies, losing just once. An away defeat in 2018 still stands as his sole derby loss.
Rodgers knows how to set up a team to beat the Ibrox club, no more so than at the beginning of the 2016/17 season when his team romped to a 5-1 victory.
It was a day to remember for Hoops fans worldwide as a Moussa Dembele hat-trick, fine Scott Sinclair finish, and arrowed Stuart Armstrong strike secured an emphatic win for The Bhoys.
Tierney, who was central to the victory, grabbing an assist, has admitted that Rodgers urged the team to harness their feelings from the heartbreaking defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final on penalties a few months before to motivate them to win.
It certainly paid off. “These derby games are crazy”, quipped the Real Sociedad man (SunSport).
“The 2016 defeat was a huge moment. From that Brendan came in and in the years after that Celtic won a quadruple Treble.
“I remember his team talk before the game against Rangers at Parkhead the next season. He said, ‘Just remember how you felt after the game at Hampden’.
“My favourite win over Rangers was the one that clinched the league. We won 5-0 at Parkhead. To win the title against our biggest rivals was amazing.
“I’m proud of my record against Rangers. The only thing I didn’t achieve was a goal.”
