Brendan Rodgers has been looking ahead to Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs this weekend while reflecting on the recent league defeat to the Edinburgh side.

The Hoops suffered a 2-1 loss at Easter Road last month, but Rodgers insists the context of that game cannot be ignored. Celtic were just coming off the back of a massive 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, with fatigue playing a factor in the result.

It was a slow start to that match in the capital, but after a few changes at halftime, the team were going for it and full of energy. They were denied a call by a VAR decision, which the SFA have since come out and said that the technology was wrong to intervene.

Speaking about the weekend’s tie, the Celtic manager said: [Sky Sports]

“The context of that game, we’re coming off the back of, towards the end of a really, really busy, busy schedule, coming off the game having a wee European game. Heads started well, got the goal after a few minutes, which gave them belief.

“And then they scored late on in the second half. We dominated the game. I felt that we got an equaliser in 82 minutes, which then can change the course of the game and the result.

“But it wasn’t to be. But no, I’ve come away from the game seeing a team that’s very well organised, in a different space to what they were at the beginning of the season. Very structured in their play, in the game, and I’ve got some dangerous players.

“So, as a game, we know we have to be very good to get to the semi-final.”

Brendan Rodgers will be looking to book his side into the semi-final ahead of the draw on Monday night after Livingston v St Johnstone ahead of the ties to be played in April at the national stadium.

With a full week to prepare, Celtic will be looking to put things right and move one step closer to another domestic treble, Rodgers’ third as Celtic manager.