‘In The Main We've Always Played Well At Hampden And Been Very Good'

BRENDAN Rodgers will look forward to Sunday’s Scottish semi-final against Rangers with confidence given Celtic’s superb record on the big occasion under his tenure.

- Mark Henderson

The Hoops boast a 100 per cent record at Hampden since he took the reins, winning all six fixtures at the National Stadium on their way to securing three pieces of silverware.

In the league, they have also risen to the challenge when it really matters, including in the last Glasgow derby at Ibrox when they prevailed 3-2 after playing most of the match with 10 men.

“We showed in that game, despite being at a disadvantage, we have the same mentality to pull through whatever the circumstances,” the manager told the View in an exclusive interview.

“I’m very excited. These are always tense games but in the main we’ve always played well at Hampden and been very good, so hopefully we can have a similar performance and a similar result to each of the times we’ve been there.

“In those types of games we have normally performed well, which you want to do, so this weekend we’ll take that confidence into it. You always pay attention in these games as they are tense matches but we want to go in and play our football, and at least now we have a free week to get ready and prepare for that.”

The champions will go into the last-four clash on the back of a comfortable 2-1 triumph over Hamilton Accies, which stretched their lead at the top of the table to 13 points, putting them within one win of a seventh successive title. It may have been a narrow margin of victory, but the Bhoys completely bossed the match at New Douglas Park.

It looked like it was going to be a straightforward afternoon when Callum McGregor made an early breakthrough, but Rakish Bingham beat the offside trap to equalise on a rare forward foray for the hosts.