Celtic loan target ‘would score bundles of goals’ in Scotland as Rodgers tipped to pull of major coup amid Man City interest…

Celtic loan target ‘would score bundles of goals’ in Scotland as Rodgers tipped to pull of major coup amid Man City interest…

The Brighton striker is a boyhood Celtic fans and has been linked with a loan switch to Parkhead this winter

English Premier League giants Manchester City are considering a January move for Celtic loan target Evan Ferguson, according to reports.

The 18-time capped Republic of Ireland international has lost his way on the south coast and fallen out of favour under head coach Fabian Hürzeler after scoring just one goal this season. He has subsequently been linked with a temporary switch away from the Amex Stadium and GiveMeSport claim Pep Guardiola could hand the towering frontman a chance to reignite his career at the Eithad.

Guardiola is understood to be open to adding to his forward options in January after selling Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for a club-record £81.8 million last summer.

Ferguson broke through at Brighton two years ago at the age of 18 but has been unable to recapture his best form in recent times.The likes of Celtic, Leicester City and West Ham have recently touted as possible destinations, along with Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United and Sunderland.

Discussing Ferguson’s options and the possibility of him joining the Hoops, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman reckons it would be “huge” if Brendan Rodgers could pull off a major coup by selling the fact he’s already a boyhood fan of the club and the lure of Champions League football during the second half of the season.

He told CoinPoker: “Yes, I do think Evan Ferguson would be the perfect addition to Leeds United or Sunderland. But do I think he’ll end up in the Championship? No, I don’t. Just 18 months ago, he was being lauded as a £100 million player. So I can’t see him playing in the Championship no matter how big a club is.

“If a loan move is an option for him, you’d suggest a loan move to another Premier League club would be logical, as long as he gets minutes, which is key for him. Perhaps he could move to Europe. If I look at the quality of the Scottish Premiership, I don’t think a transfer to the SPL would be right for Evan Ferguson.

“However, he’s an Irish lad who has previously admitted Celtic are his favourite Scottish team. That could be a little carrot which makes him consider a move to Parkhead. European football would also be an attraction. But would it be enough for him after being linked with some of the best clubs in the world previously?

“While the European nights are brilliant, the rest of it, aside from Rangers and maybe Aberdeen, is easy. I say that with the utmost respect and as someone who played in the Scottish Premiership. I’m not criticising it, those are just levels when compared to the Premier League. It would be huge if Celtic could somehow persuade him to sign for them and he would score bundles of goals. I’m just not sure it would be a wonderful career move.”

Celtic Tipped to Sign Arsenal Star in Surprise Transfer Move – Report

Kieran Tierney’s Potential Celtic Return: Navigating the Future at Home

Kieran Tierney’s potential return to Celtic is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing football narratives as we head deeper into the season. According to TEAMtalk, the Scottish full-back’s time at Arsenal is drawing to a close, with no new contract on the horizon. As one of Scotland’s premier talents, Tierney’s professional journey has been notable, though marred by injuries that have hindered his ability to secure a permanent first-team place in recent years.

“Kieran Tierney will not be offered a new deal by Arsenal, and he could return to Celtic, with both parties open to reuniting,” TEAMtalk has reported, highlighting a mutual interest in rekindling a relationship that began in Tierney’s youth.

Weighing the Financials and Competition

One of the biggest challenges in Tierney’s potential return to Celtic is financial. Currently earning £80,000 a week at Arsenal, his salary is a significant hurdle for the Scottish club. “There may have to be compromises made,” TEAMtalk notes, suggesting that while the desire for a homecoming is strong, financial realities could necessitate tough conversations and concessions from both parties.

Further complicating Celtic’s plans are the interests from other clubs. Real Sociedad, among others, have shown continued interest in Tierney. “Sources in Spain say Real Sociedad are still big fans of his and have been alerted to the fact he is available on a free,” the article states. This adds another layer to Celtic’s strategy, as they are not only negotiating a potential deal but also fending off competition from clubs with potentially greater financial flexibility.

Celtic’s Broader Transfer Strategy

The narrative surrounding Tierney’s return is part of a larger transfer strategy for Celtic. The club is also looking to bolster its midfield by targeting Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, a move that could see them part with as little as £15 million. Meanwhile, Premier League sides like Brentford and Brighton are showing interest in Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn, who has made significant contributions this season.

Each of these movements underscores a period of flux for Celtic, as they balance maintaining their current squad with strategic acquisitions to enhance their competitive standing both domestically and in European competitions.

Tierney’s Legacy and Future Prospects

Despite the uncertainties and challenges, Tierney’s potential return to Celtic could be a significant move for both the player and the club. His familiarity with the club and its culture, coupled with his experience in top-tier football, would provide Celtic with a seasoned professional who is still in the prime years of his career.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

As a heartfelt Arsenal supporter, it’s bittersweet to contemplate Kieran Tierney’s departure. His commitment and performances have always been beyond question, embodying the spirit and passion that Arsenal fans cherish. However, the practicalities of football sometimes necessitate tough decisions. Arsenal’s decision not to renew his contract may be a reflection of the strategic direction the club is taking rather than a comment on Tierney’s abilities or contributions.

Tierney’s return to Celtic could be viewed as a homecoming hero’s journey—returning to where it all began, to perhaps ignite a new chapter in his career in a familiar setting. This move, while heavy-hearted for Arsenal fans, could be the best resolution for a player who needs regular playtime and fewer pressures from the rigorous demands of the Premier League.

In essence, if Tierney does return to Celtic, he will be missed at Arsenal, but his legacy as a player who gave his all will remain untarnished. His potential success back in Scotland would be watched with pride and perhaps a touch of envy, knowing that our loss is truly Celtic’s gain.

Celtic is ‘closely followed’ by the Euro starlet as interest in a highly regarded attacker known as “the artist” increases.

The promising winger has bagged five goals and seven assists and now plays alongside two former Hoops stars in Norway

Celtic are reportedly tracking highly-rated Norwegian winger Sondre Ørjasæter ahead of the January transfer window opening in just 13 days time.

The promising 21-year-old attacker, who plays his club football for Sarpsborg 08 and is well regarded in his homeland, is understood to have been ‘closely followed’ by the Hoops scouting department in recent months, but the Scottish champions are not the only club to have been keeping a watchful eye on his development.

Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg have also been credited with an interest, despite his team in Norway appearing to be in no rush to sell the player. According to Nettavisen, Sarpsborg “have no desire to sell this winter” as things stand.

Ørjasæter has notched five goals and provided seven assists in 32 appearances this season, playing alongside former Celtic Player of the Year and three-time title winner Stefan Johansen and Jo Igne Berget. He has already amassed over 100 senior games despite his age and has shone in the Eliteserien after earning a move from Sogndal in the second tier last January.

The attacker initially broke through in the lower leagues as a 17-year-old and was nicknamed “the artist” by former Wolves and Werder Bremen star Havard Flo. Should Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers be able to convince Sarpsborg to part ways with one of their rising stars, it could allow Luis Palma to move on in search of regular game time elsewhere.

The Honduran international has struggling for minutes this season, having failed to make a first-team appearance since the 2-0 Premiership win against Dundee at the end of October.

The VAR team stood aside as the Scottish FA acknowledged Rangers’ penalty blunder in the Celtic Cup final defeat.

Details of Willie Collum chat with new Rangers CEO laid bare

The Scottish Football Association have accepted Rangers were denied a crucial penalty kick in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final defeat against Celtic at Hampden.

The Scotsman understands that during a discussion between new Ibrox chief executive Patrick Stewart and Willie Collum, SFA Head of Referee Operations, it was admitted that a mistake was made when VAR officials failed to alert referee John Beaton that Celtic centre-half Liam Scales’ tug on Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny’s jersey occurred on the line, rather than just outside the box. Instead of giving a penalty. Beaton awarded a foul just outside the box from which James Tavernier shot over the bar.

Collum is set to address the incident in the SFA’s own VAR Review Show scheduled to be recorded and aired this week.

It is the latest VAR error set to be flagged by the Key Match Incident panel. This weekly report from a five-person committee looking back at selected incidents in the previous weekend’s fixtures will be published on Friday.

Stewart, who has given his first interview since officially starting at the Ibrox club on Monday, has spoken to SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell as well as Collum with reference to the incident, which took place three minutes into extra time with the score locked at 3-3. Rangers later lost a penalty shootout 5-4.

Celtic’s Liam Scales (R) pulls down Rangers’ Vaclav Cerny at the edge of the penalty box during the Premier Sports Cup final. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

Stewart described the beginning of his tenure as “bittersweet” given the defeat. “Yesterday was my first day and we were still licking our wounds from Sunday,” he said. “It was a disappointing manner of defeat but we can take a lot from it.”

He later confirmed that he had felt compelled to be in touch with the SFA about refereeing already. “As people will know, I have spoken with the SFA for an explanation about the non-awarding of a penalty in extra-time,” he said. “I’ll wait to hear what the SFA have to say about that.”

It’s understood the SFA believe they have already offered all the explanation possible: the officials erred. Neither VAR referee Alan Muir nor his assistant Frank Connor have been allocated games this weekend, although Beaton will be in charge of Hearts v St Johnstone on Sunday.

Whether this placates Rangers remains to be seen. Ibrox manager Philippe Clement could not hide his anger after the game and urged reporters to “dig into it”. He added that his phone was already “overloaded” with images just minutes after the end of the game highlighting where the foul had occurred.

New Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart discussed the Premier Sports Cup final penalty incident with SFA head of refereeing Willie Collum.

Stewart, speaking to Rangers TV, said he “didn’t want to dwell on the cup final – but it could have been such a memorable day”. He added that the manner of the defeat was “hard to take”. However, he said there was a lot of optimism to take from it.

He also accepted there were challenges ahead to address alongside new non-executive chairman Fraser Thornton. “There’s a lot we can be proud of in terms of what’s been achieved so far, perhaps in trying circumstances, over the past seven months in particular,” he said. Rangers are currently third in the Premiership, two points behind second-placed Aberdeen and 11 adrift of leaders Celtic.

“There’s been no secret that on the park we are not where we want to be in term of trophies,” added Stewart. “Off the park, the agm results were there for all to see.” The club recently announced a £17.2 million loss for the year to June, despite revenue of £88.3 million.

“Sometimes the wider perception for Rangers hasn’t been where we want it to be so there are challenges there,” continued Stewart. “But equally, we’ve got some really strong foundations to build from.”

John Beaton is unlikely to receive the Kevin Clancy or Willie Collum treatment.

Referee John Beaton during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

I was on the BBC website the morning following the League Cup Final to be met with the headline shown below. Firstly, if something is definite it cannot be gossip, which is defined as not being confirmed to be true…

Referee John Beaton during the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

‘Rangers (sic) denied definite penalty – gossip’

I was on the BBC website the morning following the League Cup Final to be met with the above headline. Firstly, if something is definite it cannot be gossip, which is defined as not being confirmed to be true.

The use of the word definite, springs from a post by an ex-referee, who described it as “100%” a penalty. No prizes for guessing which referee, it was none other than Bobby Madden. The man who spent his formative years watching, which is his euphemism for supporting, Rangers. Despite that he was allowed to referee games involving his own team and Celtic, including many Glasgow derbies. I can recall a few interesting refereeing decisions by him in his time. Not sure what he is doing now or why he should be on the BBC’s radar.

The penalty claim explained. Beaton had blown the whistle for the foul outside the box. Image from social media.

The statistics from the game are pretty damming yet I could not find any comments on them in the BBC or mainstream media. The Ibrox outfit committed 22 fouls and received eight yellow cards, that despite a great deal of leniency shown to them by Mr. Beaton. His idea of a foul is at best inconsistent and one of the linesman definitely should have gone to Specsavers. I’ve no idea which, if any, footballing allegiances these two gentlemen have disclosed to the SFA but I guess it wasn’t Celtic.

The men from Govan are exhibiting all the mentality of a wee team. Before the game, their manager bemoans the financial gap between the teams, their players try to kick us of the park (and were given free rein to do so) and, after the game, they moan about one decision which did not go their way, amongst the many that did. Not only that, they ask their friends in the media to spread the word. The BBC heard that message loud and clear.

Referee John Beaton before the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

There is a bit of deja vu going on here. I recall there was a similar uproar about a penalty not given in a Glasgow derby last season, even though a clear foul had been committed by them just beforehand. On that occasion, they wrote to the SFA demanding, amongst other things, that Kevin Clancy never referee another of their games. The furore lead to Mr. Clancy and his wife receiving death threats. I haven’t fully researched this but I think they got their wish as indeed was the case with Willie Collum previously. To save face, the SFA did appoint Collum to referee a cup game at Ibrox against Ayr United.

Callum McGregor leads the Celtic celebrations with his players after lifting The Premier Sports Cup after the victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

I understand a similar letter has been submitted to the SFA about Sunday’s game and the only controversial incident of that game, namely the “definite penalty”, as reported on or gossiped about by the BBC, take your pick. I suspect that unlike last time, there is not a request that Mr. Beaton never referees another of their games. They may be a wee team but they are not that daft. I also suspect there won’t be any death threats made against Mr. Beaton, although the chance of there being a drink for him behind the bar of the Crown Bar in Bellshill are now non existent at this moment in time. Maybe later John, when you start behaving yourself.

Celtic put us through the wringer on Sunday but it turned out to be a beautiful Sunday after all.

Christopher Wotherspoon

Celtic in the Thirties 

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

By popular demand, both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special Christmas dedication to your copies please let us know. Postage deadline for Christmas is next Wednesday. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

 

The referee for Sunday’s Tannadice clash between Dundee United and Celtic has been confirmed.

Photo by Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock referee David Dickinson

Celtic return to Premiership action this weekend with a trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United. The Scottish Champions picked up the Premier Sports League Cup with a penalty shootout win over Rangers at Hampden and will look to continue the feel good factor with a win over Jim Goodwin’s side.

The SFA have confirmed the refereeing appointments for the game with David Dickinson set to take charge. Dickinson will be assisted by Calum Spence and Craig Ferguson.

Meanwhile at Clydesdale House, Gavin Duncan is on VAR duties with Andrew McWilliam assisting.

The 44-year-old took charge of Celtic’s 3-0 win against Motherwell at Fir Park back in October. The official missed a penalty call for Celtic after Daizen Maeda was hauled down by Stephen O’Donnell before his hand guided the ball into the net. Later in the game, Dickinson upgraded Liam Gordon’s yellow card to a red after his late challenge on Adam Idah was reviewed.

Rangers and Aberdeen will look to put Brendan’s side under pressure as they play on Saturday; however, given the form so far this season, Celtic fans will be hopeful of picking up three points against the 2023/24 SPFL Championship Winners.

Celtic dismisses the Rangers penalty commotion as the cup hero cites important statistics and maintains that “we deserved to win.”

Celtic players celebrate cup win amid gripes from Ibrox

Celtic are refusing to allow the furore surrounding Rangers’ penalty complaints to detract from the glory of their Premier Sports Cup final win on Sunday.

While much of the focus on the blue side of Glasgow has been on the failure of VAR to intervene when referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick for a Liam Scales shirt pull on Vaclav Cerny which video replays showed took place on the 18-yard line, the green half of the city are busy celebrating another success that edges them one ahead of Rangers in the all-time honours list, the score now standing at 119-118 in Celtic’s favour.

A group of Celtic players were spotted partying at the PDC World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace on Monday where a hand-written 119 sign was held aloft in a cheeky dig aimed at their Ibrox rivals. Paulo Bernardo wasn’t among them – “I just preferred to stay home and rest!” – but he insisted he and his teammates have not paid any attention to the VAR fall-out after edging a six-goal Hampden thriller in a penalty shoot-out.

Celtic’s Paulo Bernardo with the Premier Sports Cup trophy after the victory over Rangers at Hampden. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

The Portuguese midfielder, who started the final before making way for Arne Engels in the second half, said: “We don’t focus on that decision. We just move forward now. We won the trophy after a very good game and that’s all we think about.

“It was a difficult game on Sunday. Both teams played well and it was a good game for supporters to watch. But we had almost 70 per cent of the ball and I think we deserved to win the cup. In the final moments, we had the quality to win the game and the players did so well in the shootout. When it came to the big pressure moments, we delivered. Our objective was to win the trophy and we managed to do that.”

While James Forrest became Celtic’s joint most decorated player in history alongside Bobby Lennox on 25 medals, with Callum McGregor equalling Billy McNeilv just two behind, the victory provided Bernardo with his third winners’ memento in his second season at the club – and his first as a permanent signing after spending last season on loan from Benfica.

Celtic’s Paulo Bernardo with the Premier Sports Cup trophy during a Celtic FC Foundation Schools Party at Celtic Park with local Primary 5 pupils from four East End schools – Dalmarnock, Riverbank, Sacred Heart and St Timothy. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group

“It was a great day and personally, I am very happy to win another trophy with this great club,” he beamed. “It was a really good moment for us and the celebrations were great after it. We came back to the stadium to see the fans and we had a nice time with the squad too.”

Bernardo, who joined over 200 children from local schools at a Celtic Foundation Christmas event at Celtic Park on Tuesday, also spoke of how much he is enjoying the pressure and demands of playing for the club.

“We are winning so it’s natural to he happy. We are playing well and winning trophies, and that is all that matters for Celtic. Personally, I feel settled and happy. I am at a club that demands success but I am happy with that. I don’t really view it as pressure because I grew up as a Benfica player and you have to win every game there too. I joined them when I was six so this is all I have ever known in my career. I am used to the pressure and expectations and I know that I have to be prepared to win every game.”

 

Jim Goodwin provides an update ahead of the Celtic match, while Louis Moult struggles with Dundee United’s injuries.

The striker netted in the weekend defeat to Motherwell but left Fir Park with his arm in a sling

Louis Moult is a major doubt for Celtic with Dundee United sweating on his shoulder injury

Jim Goodwin has confirmed that Dundee United are sweating on the scan results of Louis Moult’s shoulder injury.

The experienced striker netted in the weekend defeat to Motherwell but left Fir Park with his arm in a sling. The Englishman now looks to be a major doubt for the visit of champions Celtic to Tannadice on Sunday. United boss Goodwin said: “He’s hurt his shoulder in the game unfortunately on Saturday, so he is a concern.

“It’s obviously a bit more of a precautionary measure after the game (with the sling) but his shoulder has definitely given him a bit of bother. So he’ll get a scan on that in the early part of the week and we’ll see how that transpires. We won’t know the extent of things until we get those results.”

The 32-year-old has netted four league goals already this term and it would be a blow if he was sidelined again. Moult has recently just come back from a leg fracture. Goodwin added: “Obviously, Moulty is a great finisher and both himself and Sam have played really well together in the last couple of games.

“He’s already had a lengthy spell out with the fracture in his leg so the last thing Moulty needs now is another stint on the sidelines. “Hopefully we can get him back and nothing too serious comes about.”

Defender Will Ferry will also come back into the United fold for the Celtic game after missing the Motherwell match because of suspension. United’s 4-3 defeat in Lanarkshire saw them slip down to fifth in the table.

Goodwin was disappointed with the uncharacteristic manner that his team conceded their goals but also believed his team showed a lot of good signs going the other way. He said: “I am disappointed with the result but the actual performance, taking out some of the goals that we conceded. The actual overall performance on the day was quite good.

“I am just disappointed because we scored three goals and if you do that in a game then you should be taking at least a point. We just shot ourselves in the foot, unfortunately, in one or two situations.

“I think sometimes you’ve just got to deal with a bad day at the office and I think that’s what it is. As I said after the game, I wasn’t going to over-criticise the defenders.

“Of course, we’ll watch the goals back and identify the bits that we could have done better but, in the main, the defenders, the backline, have been outstanding I’m not going to make too big a deal about it but we certainly felt that it was a game that we should have taken something from and I think all the games that we’ve played now against Motherwell.

“There’s only been one goal in it and they’ve been really tight games and you can’t afford to make the kind of mistakes that we made at this level because you will get punished. One thing the boys did was keep going and kept fighting and kept believing they could take something. We scored some good goals but ultimately we’re coming away with nothing to show for it.”

Stewart reveals that SFA has discussed Rangers’ penalty while he waits for clarification.

Patrick Stewart spoke with Rangers TV in his first interview as chief executive (Image: PA)

Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart has revealed he is waiting on an explanation from the Scottish FA over the major penalty flashpoint in the Premier Sports Cup final against Celtic.

The new CEO has been in contact with the Scottish FA to demand answers over the decision-making process after Rangers were not awarded a spot-kick at Hampden.

Referee John Beaton had awarded a free-kick when Vaclav Cerny was hauled down by Liam Scales. However, replays showed the Rangers winger with his foot on the line of the box at the time of the incident.

🎙️ New Chief Executive Officer Patrick Stewart sat down with RangersTV to discuss his role with the club.

— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) December 17, 2024

IFAB laws state:  “If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick.”

VAR official Alan Muir did not intervene with the free-kick being taken instead of any review of the incident or VAR involvement in upgrading the award to a penalty. As the call was a “factual” decision Beaton would not have been called to the pitchside monitor, rather a decision on whether it was inside or outside the box would be made by the VAR officials and then communicated to the referee.

Philippe Clement was left furious over the “weird situation” as he urged journalists to “dig in” to the decision in his post-match press conference.

Stewart only began as Rangers CEO on Monday but one of his first actions was to contact the Scottish FA and referee chief Willie Collum to seek answers over the incident.

“The performances in the SPFL have been really positive, we are scoring, not conceding, of course the Cup Final – I don’t want to dwell on it again, but it could have been such a memorable day,” said Stewart on Rangers TV.

“We have a lot to be positive about. The manner which we lost was hard to take, and as I think people will know, I have spoken with the SFA to ask for an explanation about the non-awarding of a penalty in extra-time, so I will wait to hear what the SFA have to say about that.

“Obviously it is somewhat bittersweet. Yesterday was my first day and we were licking our wounds from Sunday.

“It was disappointing in the manner of the defeat, but we can take a huge amount from it. There is a lot to be optimistic about, but yesterday was bittersweet.

“I was really excited to start the role, but I was disappointed it wasn’t with a trophy in the cabinet.”

The UWCL campaign of Celtic FC Women concludes with a 3-0 loss.

Women’s Football

By Lewis Laird in Enschede

UEFA Women’s Champions League
Tuesday, December 16, 2024
De Grolsch Veste

FC TWENTE…3
(van Dooren 20, Rodgers O.G 34, Ross O.G 40)

CELTIC…0

Celtic FC Women brought their UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign to a close, slipping to defeat on matchday six against FC Twente.

Three first half goals inflicted defeat upon the Ghirls, who rounded off what has been a historic European campaign.

Despite not picking up any points, it has been a promising first ever European group stage campaign for the Ghirls, who have grown with confidence throughout the competition.

Elena Sadiku’s side headed into the game aiming to round things off with another strong showing and hoping to pick up a positive result.

The Celtic boss made four changes to her side, introducing both Lisa Rodgers and Mathilde Carstens for their first Champions League starts in the Hoops.

The match started off in a decent manner for the Celts, looking to cause some early trouble for the Twente goalkeeper.

Some nice invention from Carstens gave the Hoops the chance to throw an early free kick into the box, but it was ultimately cleared.

Both sides had chances to grab the first goal in the opening stages, with FC Twente striking the crossbar via a deflected effort, before Caitlin Hayes saw a shot well saved from close range.

However, it was the home side who would strike first in the match, opening the scoring 20 minutes into the game.

After being given a warning sign as the ball hit the back of the net, before the offside flag was raised, the Dutch side made the Celts pay, scoring from close range to make it 1-0.

Looking to play their way back into proceedings, the Ghirls were playing some decent football from the back as they tried to get forward.

However, as the game approached half time, it was the tale of two set plays that seen the Hoops slip three goals behind.

Conceding twice before the break, with two corners landing in the net via the aid of Celtic deflections, the Ghirls found themselves 3-0 down going into the break.

With her side three goals behind, the Celtic head coach introduced two changes at the break, bringing Hana Kerner and Jenny Smith into the action.

The American looked to use her pace to get the Hoops up the pitch, making a positive run in the Twente half just moments after being introduced.

As the game went on, the Celts continued to grow into proceedings, with Elena Sadiku’s side aimimg to drag themselves back in to the game.

Emma Lawton almost created a brilliant opening for one of her team-mates with a cutback on the right-hand side, but no one was there to meet the ball.

A corner into the box also almost created an opening at the back post for Caitlin Hayes. But it was cleared just in time before the Irish defender met the cross.

Ultimately, it would end in defeat for the Ghirls, with the three first half goals doing the damage.

Although they couldn’t take anything from the group, there will be plenty of learnings from what was another historic experience.

CELTIC: Rodgers, Lawton, Clark, Hayes, Barclais, Ross (McAneny 72), McGregor, M. Carstens (Smith 46), Ashworth-Clifford (Kerner 46), Gallacher (Luana 76), Noonan (Cross 64)

Subs: Logan, Daugherty, Richardson, Cavanagh, Bruna

Celtic star dismisses Cup final penalty protest as Paulo Bernardo slaps Rangers

The Hoops playmaker is ignoring the controversy surrounding Sunday’s showpiece as Celts celebrate another trophy success

Paulo Bernardo with Greg Taylor and Daizen Maeda (Image: SNS Group)

Paulo Bernardo has told Rangers to pipe down with their Premier Sports Cup protests because Celtic deserved to lift the trophy.

The Hoops ace shrugged off the controversy that’s raged on in the wake of Sunday’s epic encounter at Hampden. Brendan Rodgers’s men secured the cup after a dramatic penalty shoot out on the back of six-goal thriller over 90 minutes and extra-time.

But Ibrox chiefs have raged at the flashpoint at Hampden when Vaclav Cerny was tugged back by Liam Scales right on the edge of the box – with several ex-officials claiming the Light Blues should have been awarded a penalty – and new Gers CEO Patrick Stewart has already written to the SFA demanding an explanation.

Bernardo insisted Rangers were not robbed – because he’s convinced Celts were worthy winners. He said: “We don’t focus on that decision. We just move forward now.

“We won the trophy after a very good game and that’s all we think about. It was a difficult game on Sunday.

“Both teams played well and it was a good game for supporters to watch. But we had almost 70 per cent of the ball and I think we deserved to win the cup.

“In the final moments, we had the quality to win the game and the players did so well in the shootout. When it came to the big pressure moments, we delivered. Our objective was to win the trophy and we managed to do that.”

Paulo Bernardo with the Premier Sports Cup Trophy during a Celtic FC Foundation Schools Party at Celtic Park

Bernardo savoured the cup success but he insisted the huge character shown at Hampden to secure the trophy with drive on the Hoops in their quest for a clean sweep this season. The Parkhead men are in a commanding position in the Premiership as they get back to business against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.

Bernardo insisted no one at the club will take their foot off the gas. The Portugal Under-21 skipper – speaking at Celtic FC Foundation’s Christmas party – said: “Our mentality is to win every game and we did it again.

“All we wanted was to lift that trophy and it felt so good for us as a team and a club. The mentality is so strong within the squad.

“No matter what, we know that we have to find a way to win. We won the League Cup and now we move on to the next one.

“It was important to win on Sunday and we celebrated – but now we move on. We want to win all the trophies, of course, but we need to take it step by step and not look too far ahead.”

Billy Dodds expresses his opinions about Cameron Carter-Vickers’ behavior during Celtic’s victory over Rangers.

When Cameron Carter-Vickers isn’t playing for Celtic, you notice the difference.

The man brought in by Ange Postecoglou has been an incredible signing for the club and that was further showcased at Hampden on Sunday.

Celtic beating Rangers on penalties in the League Cup final came with its difficulties and Brendan Rodgers had to make some huge calls.

That included hooking off Auston Trusty at half-time for Liam Scales, with Celtic 1-0 down and simply not performing to their high standards.

That surely would have put Carter-Vickers under more pressure, but he stood up to it all.

Just before the Bhoys equalised, the USMNT international prevented Rangers from doubling their lead when he was four on one inside the penalty area.

Billy Dodds lauds Cameron Carter-Vickers’ interception against Rangers

After Daizen Maeda scored the trophy-winning penalty, the Japan star was rightfully lauded for remaining calm under pressure, including Kasper Schmeichel’s penalty save.

But Carter-Vickers’ interception was perhaps the pivotal moment because it prevented Rangers from giving themselves a cushion.

Billy Dodds reacted to the Celtic defender’s actions and how it ‘swung’ the course of the game, as he told The Scottish Football Podcast.

“It probably was the wrong pass, right,” said Dodds. “He could have probably gone on the two on the left.

“But see once he goes to the right of Bajrami. He has got to flash it back with pace. He just kind of faded it into an area.

“Great defending. He has to put himself in that position. You are right, it swung on that because, although Rangers picked the wrong pass and it was a four-on-one. They had to flash it across and Carter-Vickers doesn’t get a chance of it.

What Carter-Vickers did at the Darts after Celtic’s win over Rangers in League Cup final

With that League Cup final win, it now means that Celtic have won 119 trophies in their rich and illustrious history.

No other team in Scotland has more trophies as the Bhoys rightfully sit on top of the tree.

Carter-Vickers was celebrating Celtic’s win in London by watching the PDC World Darts Championships with a few of the players, and as you can see below, he was rubbing salt into the wounds.

🎯 Some of the Celtic team celebrating their League Cup final win at the darts in London tonight.

#119

— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) December 16, 2024

SFA give in to Ibrox Club pressure

The fallout from Celtic’s Premier Sports Cup Final victory over Rangers is continuing, with the SFA axing VAR duo Alan Muir and Frank O’Connor for this weekend’s fixtures.

Soccer Football – Scottish League Cup – Final – Celtic v Rangers – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – December 15, 2024 Rangers manager Philippe Clement REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

This decision appears to be a direct response to pressure from Rangers and their manager, Philippe Clement, following Sunday’s derby at Hampden Park.

In a move that smacks of poor handling, news of the officials’ sidelining was seemingly leaked to the media, which is really poor, especially given that no official word has come out.

Rangers’ reaction to the Cup Final defeat has been nothing short of petulant. The level of outrage and the lack of dignity shown in defeat have been astounding to witness. Instead of accepting that Celtic were simply better on the day, Rangers have resorted to throwing toys out of the pram, focusing on a single VAR incident involving Liam Scales and Vaclav Cerny.

On-field referee John Beaton awarded a free-kick for the foul, judging it to have occurred outside the box. VAR did not intervene to review the call — a decision that left Clement and Rangers incensed.

Celtic’s victory in the Cup Final not only secured silverware but also moved them ahead of Rangers in the all-time trophy count. This milestone appears to have been a bitter pill for those at Ibrox, who seem unable to accept defeat with grace. Instead of acknowledging Celtic’s superior performance, Rangers have deflected attention with complaints and accusations.

The SFA’s decision to cave under pressure from Rangers sets a troubling precedent. Instead of supporting their officials and maintaining consistency, they’ve opted for knee-jerk reactions that undermine the authority and credibility of referees. This approach does little to address the real issues facing Scottish football and only serves to encourage more whining and finger-pointing when results don’t go a club’s way.

Ultimately, this episode reflects poorly on both Rangers and the SFA. While Celtic continue to focus on success and silverware, their rivals seem content to engage in blame games and deflection tactics.

Perhaps the time has come for some at Ibrox to realise that the solution lies on the pitch — not in the VAR room.