James Forrest has warned Rangers that Celtic are laser-focused on lifting the Scottish Cup this weekend after knocking their title celebrations on the head.
The Celtic players enjoyed a couple of nights out on the back of their emphatic win against Kilmarnock last midweek that clinched their third Premiership crown in a row, but the experienced winger says that they have already shifted their attention to clinching a double.
Forrest says that only when they have safely deposited another trophy in the cabinet will manager Brendan Rodgers allow them to switch off, meaning there will be no title party hangover at Hampden.
“You could see our focus when we played Kilmarnock last week,” Forrest said.
“People were saying that we only needed a draw, but we went to a place where we’d lost twice this season and started off well.
“You could see the confidence in the team and after enjoying Saturday, our focus goes on the final. Hopefully we can get another trophy.
“In the manager’s first spell here, we would do that a lot. I remember winning League Cup finals on the Sunday and then we had a league game three days later. We couldn’t celebrate it back then, but he also brought that winning mentality.
“He would say to us, ‘You can celebrate down the line, there will be a time’. But he would say, ‘If you want to go down in history and look back thinking you won more than one trophy, that’s what you need to do’.
“We have to prepare properly and give ourselves the best possible chance to win another one.
“When you come through at Celtic, every game is a big game. You want to win trophies and you want to be playing in finals and semi-finals and league deciders like the Rangers game last week. These are occasions you want to be involved in.
“The build up with the fans, the atmosphere before the game. There is no feeling like it. It’s hard to describe and once you get that feeling a couple of times, you always want it again and look forward to it.”
If Forrest can get his hands on yet another winner’s medal on Saturday, he will be just one behind legendary Celt Bobby Lennox in the club’s all-time honours list.
“That is an incentive for me but winning another trophy for Celtic is the only incentive I need,” he said.
“It’s been an unbelievable period, and I don’t take any of them for granted.
“It’s just good to a feel part of them again but when you hear those milestones, it is incredible.
“When I get older, I think I will appreciate it even more.”
Lennox has been honoured for his achievements with a statue in his hometown of Saltcoats, but Forrest isn’t holding his breath that the people of his own hometown of Prestwick will be erecting a likeness of him in the town centre any time soon.
“I am not sure about that!” he laughed.
“I think my family would laugh at that one if I told them it was happening.
“I don’t think that will happen down there.”
