Celtic's Paulo Bernardo is bracing for a formidable challenge from a much-improved Rangers side when they meet at Hampden Park on Sunday.
The highly anticipated Scottish League Cup final match marks the first chance for silverware this season, and both teams are eager to claim victory in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Earlier in the season, Celtic showcased their dominance with a convincing 3-0 victory over Rangers at Parkhead. However, Bernardo emphasises that past performances hold little significance as they prepare for this crucial clash.
He acknowledges that Rangers have made significant strides since their last meeting on September 1 and are entering the final with renewed confidence, riding a nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
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“We try to do our best in every game,” the Celtic midfielder said. “It’s a final against Rangers, and we were dominating these games before, but it’s another one, and I think they are better now.
“I think it will be very difficult for us but also very difficult for them. It’ll be a good football game to watch and to play but it’s our mentality, I think.
“They are in a good moment right now but so are we. We need to play our game and do our best.
“Other results are in the past and we can only focus on the present and this game. The past is past and we can learn from it to repeat what we did well and change what was not so good.”
The former Benfica prodigy also recalled a recent encounter where he played a pivotal role in securing the 2023/24 Scottish Cup for Celtic.
His initial effort was parried by Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland, allowing teammate Adam Idah to score the decisive goal with just minutes remaining.
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Reflecting on that triumph, the 22-year-old said: "It was really good to win, so it was a very good memory.
"Last season I won two trophies, my first two in my career, so it was a lot of good memories. To end the season with a title, all the hard work that we did added a trophy to win, so it was very good."
