Celtic fans may still be celebrating after lifting the Viaplay Cup at the weekend, but the players are already back on to business ahead of their trip to St Mirren later this week.
Ange Postecoglou's side claimed the first trophy of the season after defeating Rangers 2-1 in the League Cup final at Hampden on Sunday. The Hoops are now on course to for the Treble as they still have a nine-point gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to their nearest rivals. Two goals from Kyogo Furuhashi were enough for the Parkhead club to see off Michael Beale's Rangers side at the national stadium.
The league champions now have their eyes on St Mirren on Sunday in Paisley at lunchtime as they look to maintain their lead at the top of the table. Celtic will be looking to avenge the only loss they have picked up so far this season in the league when they were defeated 2-0 by Stephen Robinson's side back in September.
Here's the latest headlines from Parkhead.
Postecoglou 'sensed' cup victory before first goal
Speaking following the cup win Postecoglou revealed on Celtic TV that he "sensed" his side was going to lift the trophy before they took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Kyogo. He said: "I sensed in the last 10 minutes of the first half that we were really growing into the game and it would just take a moment for us to capitalise on. Both goals were things we do day to day here, they weren't goals born out of the individual brilliance of a player. It was more of a collective structure we have that allows the fantastic players we have to show the best of themselves."
Simpson could have signed
Premier League winner Danny Simpson has revealed he almost signed for Celtic a few seasons ago when Neil Lennon was in charge. The 36-year-old claimed Brendan Rodgers attempted to broker the deal to take the defender to the east end of Glasgow during the summer of 2019. Simpson, who won the English Premier League with Leicester City under Claudio Ranieri in 2016, revealed the deal was very close to being done, however it was called off at the last minute when "other clubs had then signed right-backs". Lennon was on the lookout for a right-back during the summer 2019 window and eventually signed Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong from Manchester City on a four-year deal in September.
Players given time off to celebrate
Postecoglou always says Celtic never stop and he joked the players were only given a "few hours" to celebrate defeating Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final, but it was back to business soon after, revealed Postecoglou. He said of the players: "I didn't give them the whole 24 hours, they took a few hours. I was home by 8.30 with my family, that's my way of celebrating. I enjoyed the day and I was really pleased and proud of the performance the lads put on in such a big game. It was going to be a significant day and I'm really proud of everyone that it turned into a special one."
Hatate Ange's 'best' signing
Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday believes Reo Hatate is Ange Postecoglou's best signing since arriving in the east end of Glasgow. The former Rangers player said Hatate's signature tops that of top goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi. Speaking on the Open Goal podcast, Halliday debated with former Celtic player Paul Slane about who was the better signing. Slane believes it is Kyogo, but Halliday disagreed. He said: "Do you think so? I think Hatate. I think Hatate will go for more money, but strikers always get the dough."
McGregor an 'outstanding leader'
Celtic captain has been described as an "outstanding leader" by manager Ange Postecoglou as he saluted the midfielder after lifting another trophy at Hampden. The Scotland international has a perfect record in cup finals at the national stadium - 11 out of 11. Postecoglou praised his captain, he said: “You can see with Callum that he’s still very, very measured in the way he embraces what comes his way. He understands that his role in it is to be the leader of a collective effort and to never allow himself or the group to get too far ahead of themselves. That’s the most pleasing thing for me. I said after his 400th game that he trains every day like he’s got something to prove and I’ve got no doubt that’s what he’ll come in and do today. That’s a hallmark for me of an outstanding leader."
Celtic set for South Korea
With a trip to Japan already in the books, Celtic are set to add South Korea to their pre-season diary. The champions are heading to the homeland of a number of their stars. Kyogo, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi will all be jetting back to Japan with the Hoops as Ange Postecoglou returns to the country where he used to manage as he gears up for this third Premiership campaign in the Hoops hotseat. They’ve been invited to take part in a glamour tournament alongside European giants Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris-SG. It’s a second far-flung trip in a matter of months for the Glasgow club after they headed Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup last November.
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