A rough trip would compare the Celtic Cup victory to the “Invincibles.”

Celtic supervisor Brendan Rodgers is searching for greater Scottish Cup glory with Celtic this season. (Image: SNS)
When Tom Rogic scored deep into stoppage time in opposition to Aberdeen at Hampden Park to win the Scottish Cup, rounding off an ‘invincible’ season for Celtic, there used to be a contact of kismet alongside the rainclouds hanging heavy in the air.

There was once a feeling that no count how plenty of a recreation battle the Dons put up that day, the whole lot at that factor was once simply going the way of Celtic and Brendan Rodgers.

The same in reality can’t be said this time around. The road to viable glory for Rodgers on account that his summer season return to Celtic has been a lot bumpier than it used to be in his debut season as boss, and the road to Hampden will in all likelihood be no different.

Celtic have already careered off that track this season, crashing out of the League Cup to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. By drawing an in-form St Mirren out of the hat away from domestic in the fifth round, there is a enormous roadblock between them and the Scottish Cup too.

Rodgers is getting used to the feeling. Any silverware his crew do get this season, they will actually be in a position to say they had to work for it.

But while the journey may also be distinct this time around, the remaining vacation spot remains the same, and the Celtic manager thinks that if his guys do get their hands on that trophy this time around, it will be just as exceptional as the first time he guided them to it.

“In a distinctive way yes,” Rodgers said.

“It simply feels like there have been so many roadblocks in the way this year. But that’s the undertaking of being a manager. There are exclusive roadblocks.

“There have been a lot of little times along the way the place it has been challenging. But that’s what it’s about. You can solely adapt. It’s been a challenge, which I thought it would be, in all fairness.

“I stated on the first day I concept the pressure and expectation would be more hard due to the fact of the last time and because of how I left. But that’s ok, I can deal with that.

“It’s a case about time to turn it around. We’ve had plenty of issues round health of gamers and key players. You seem to be at the games where we’ve neglected people and the stage of player that constantly makes the football appear different.

“But it’s nonetheless been thrilling for me and I’ve nevertheless cherished being here and I nevertheless want to be right here for a period of time in order to make certain we can progress.

“It may no longer have started out off as easily as you’d like or how it did the closing time. It doesn’t suggest it never will be, so I’m very constructive for the group and the membership and how we can improve.

“I’ll have that ambition to do that.”

This Celtic crew then would possibly now not go down as one of the club’s greatest, as that crew from Rodgers’ first season in charge arguably already has, however he thinks they might be in a position to carve out their very own place in history if they refuse to buckle beneath the challenges that have been presented to them this term.

“It’s a lot harder,” he said.

“It’s been a lot harder. Particularly that first season we had been in a rhythm and a flow, it was once a super crew of players, they had been robust, they were physical, they have been strong and technical. We had a real correct mentality in the team.

“This 12 months has been different. We’ve got some superb players with real nice however we’ve by no means been able to piece that all together.

“In the future, we will, but in the intervening time you have to win. It might now not be as cohesive or as fluent for all these reasons, however you nevertheless have to discover a way to win and that’s what this group is doing.”

So, for all the rancour and disgruntlement that has seemed like history radiation in Celtic’s season so far, a pleased ending like the ones they have turn out to be accustomed to might nonetheless be in the offing if Rodgers has his way.

“I’ve neglected Hampden,” he said.

“It’s an terrific competition to be concerned in and I was once very fortunate to have the emotions and recollections we created the first time.

“So missing out on the League Cup, we’re even extra decided for this competition.

“It’s something special. It’s brilliant. Obviously the first game was an iconic game for us and the feeling how it summarised the whole season.

“Memories created like that are with you forever. To then be able to do it in opposition to Motherwell a 12 months later so convincingly capped off another excellent season.

“I love the opposition and I hope we can get there again.”