Celtic secured the Scottish Cup in dramatic fashion last weekend against Rangers at Hampden to claim an impressive domestic double.
Despite the affair being far from a classic, Adam Idah’s speed of thought saw him latch on to a Jack Butland fumble and convert, sending the sea of green and white behind the goal into raptures.
Brendan Rodgers’ men held on to record their fourth victory over Rangers of the season, earning the 118th major honour in Celtic’s history and closing out a successful campaign.
In many ways, last Saturday’s events form a microcosm of the Bhoys’ season. They had to navigate challenges along the way but showed their teeth when it mattered to get over the line.
From a supporter’s perspective, there would’ve been a fair helping of nerves among the Celtic following present at Hampden and around the world; however, Scott Brown was never in any doubt that his old side and Rodgers would see the job through.
Scott Brown on why he knew Celtic would beat Rangers
Cited via The Daily Record, former Celtic captain Brown had lauded Rodgers’ men for their desire to fight until the final whistle to claim cup glory, which he believes is characteristic of the Irishman’s sides and their ability to overcome difficult moments.
He also pinpointed Rodgers’ calmness as a reason for the Hoops’ success, as he stated: “You’ve always got to have that belief and when you’ve got a manager who is calm and collected, is not erratic on the bench or in the press or to the players, then it brings calmness to the whole squad. That’s what you want in a top football club like this.
“It was an excellent performance from the lads to scrape a 1-0 win in a cup final. Sometimes you don’t always have to be at your best but you have to make sure you are switched on for 90 minutes.
“And that is what Brendan’s team always do. At the same time, the lads worked so hard and it is probably their 55th or 56th game of the season or whatever it is.
“So for the lads to continue… they looked a little bit tired at the end but they still grafted away and worked hard. You can see what it meant to all the fans and the players as well.”
Celtic’s winning mentality transcends managers
In recent years past, Celtic have become famed for late winners and adopting a never-say-die attitude that has seen them claim a near-constant flow of silverware since the turn of the millennium.
Over the last decade, the club have achieved unprecedented success that has transcended managers, with key men such as Brown, Callum McGregor and James Forrest helping to instil a mentality predicated on winning at all costs.
Supporters will drink in these special moments for time to come; however, they are also hungry to see this trend continue years down the line.