Celtic manager sends clear message before Scottish Cup semi-final

Celtic have not lost a match in domestic competition in a long time. The Hoops have already won the Scottish League Cup this season as well. They are leading the Premiership title race by six points and would definitely like to lift the Scottish Cup too. But to do that, they will first need to get a victory over the Rangers on Sunday in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Hampden Park hosts the Glasgow Derby this weekend, with Ange Postecoglou looking to add another feather to his cap, in his still brief yet successful tenure as the Celtic manager.

Recently, both teams crossed paths at Ibrox in what was seen by many as a Premiership title decider a fortnight ago. On that occasion, Celtic emerged victorious, with goals from Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers giving them a 2-1 win, leaving them with a 6-point lead in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Thus, the foundations have been laid for a successful season. Yet, there is a lot more work to be done. Ahead of Celtic’s semi-final against the Rangers, Postecoglou has sent a clear message about the magnitude of the game.

Celtic manager sends clear message before Scottish Cup semi-final vs Rangers

As reported by the Daily Record, the former Australia national team manager said ahead of the fourth Glasgow Derby of the season:

“It’s a cup semi-final so there’s meaning on the end of it. There’s consequences on the end of it.

“Every cup game you play, if you want to progress you’ve got to perform on the day and you’ve got to get the job done on the day.

“There’s no second chances and particularly in the semi-final it’s going to be a tough game. It’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere and you know the players know the occasion.

“I don’t have to disguise or dress it up in any other way that it’s going to be a massive game with massive consequences and it’s exactly where we want to be.”

Celtic are coming into the game on the back of a great performance, having beaten St Johnstone 7-0 in the Scottish Premiership last weekend.

But then, the Rangers have a lot to be positive about as well. Even though they have lost their previous two games against Celtic, 3-0 at Parkhead and 2-1 at Ibrox, they are coming into the Scottish Cup semi-final, having sealed a place for themselves in the Europa League semi-finals, having gotten a 3-1 win over SC Braga in the second leg of their quarter-final tie to win 3-2 on aggregate.

This article was originally posted here

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