Brendan Rodgers is looking forward to this Saturday's Scottish Cup Final 2024 between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park.
Following his side's thrilling championship-clinching 5-0 win over Kilmarnock last week, that was then followed by Saturday's 3-2 title part at Celtic Park, the manager stressed that he and his players would enjoy the celebrations before promptly turning their attention to this Saturday's cup final showdown.
Speaking to Celtic TV in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's victory, however, the Irishman underlined the fact that while they wanted to celebrate with the Paradise faithful having already been crowned champions days before, he wanted his players to treat the game like any other day at work.
"It's everything I expected it to be and more," said Rodgers. "This time around I'm going to enjoy every single second of it. The next thing is important, but I can press pause on days like today.
"It's such a special club, and I really want to make sure I enjoy all of these special moments. We haven't been able to do that all season. The players, their application, their professionalism, everything has been superb.
"Today's a day to celebrate. But I also said: this is work. Walking up the Celtic Way before the game was amazing. Celebrating with the fans after winning, amazing. But it's a workday as well.
"We wanted to win, and the players did that and I'm so proud of them. That preparation [for Saturday] starts [immediately], but we're in a great place moving into the weekend."
Saturday's Scottish Cup final marks the fifth and final time Celtic and Rangers will lock horns this season, and is also the first time the sides have met at this stage in the competition since 2002.
That afternoon Alex McLeish's Rangers overcame Martin O'Neill's men 3-2, an outcome that Brendan Rodgers and his players will strive not to replicate in a few days' time.
The last time the sides met in the Scottish Cup all told, on the other hand, was last year, when a lone Jota goal ensured Ange Postecoglou's side overcame Michael Beale's Rangers in the semi-final of the 2022/23 tournament.
