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

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.