Brendan Rodgers ‘200% staying’ after Celtic clinch 55th Scottish league identify

Brendan Rodgers has reaffirmed his dedication to Celtic because the newly topped champions wrapped up the Scottish Premiership identify for the fourth successive season – their 55th and 2nd trophy of the marketing campaign – with a 5-0 thrashing of Dundee United at Tannadice.

Rangers had stored the race going final Sunday by means of coming from two objectives down, and with 10 males to attract 2-2 at Aberdeen. However, Celtic’s cruise took them 18 issues transparent on most sensible, rendering Rangers’ later 2-2 draw at St Mirren inappropriate to the identify.

The Celtic supervisor informed Sky Sports: “I am very hungry to win. We want to be the most successful team we can be. I will be here next year, 200%. I said 150% a few weeks ago. I have never been happier here.

“Leading into this game there was a little bit of negativity around the league and the competition, but we can only concentrate on ourselves. Our mentality has been so, so good. The competition is for everyone. When it matters, this team has produced, it’s not our fault we’re 18 points clear and scoring goals. It’s important to keep the motivation and the hunger at this stage of the season and we know what we want to achieve and what records we want to beat.”

An personal target by means of Dundee United’s Ryan Strain set Celtic on their method after 30 mins sooner than Nicolas Kühn added two extra sooner than part time, the primary of which used to be a wonderful end on the again publish after a devilish pass from the left by means of Arne Engels. Adam Idah made it 4-0 after 47 mins with a sensible header and the ahead added some other within the 58th minute with a pointy right-footed end.

Last season Brendan Rodgers’s aspect received the identify by means of 12 issues, however this season has proved a mismatch, as in spite of dropping 4 in their 34 fits – yet another than in all of final season – the chasing pack were not able to capitalise. Rangers, alternatively, have performed the league double over their opponents this calendar 12 months – with a complete 3-0 victory at Ibrox in January adopted by means of a exciting 3-2 win final month at Celtic Park.

Celtic, although, will press on looking for a treble. They beat Rangers on consequences after a six-goal mystery in December’s ultimate of the Scottish League Cup and final Sunday they beat St Johnstone 5-0 to achieve subsequent month’s Scottish Cup ultimate in opposition to Aberdeen.

Celtic have now claimed 21 of the final 26 home trophies in Scotland. Only Aberdeen within the Scottish Cup ultimate stand in the best way of 22 from 27 and 6 trebles in 9 seasons.

“Amazing performance, outstanding. It means the world to us. We wanted to perform because if we do, we know we’ll get what we want,” the Celtic captain, Callum McGregor, informed Sky Sports. “The sky is the limit for us, we were so good today. We have four league games to try and arrive into the Scottish Cup final in the best moment and if we do that, we have the chance to do something special this season.”

However, there used to be disruption sooner than the triumph as Celtic fanatics threw dozens of tangerines directly to the pitch in protest at Dundee United’s pricing. Celtic had raised issues with the Scottish Professional Football League after United set grownup price ticket costs at as much as £42 for away supporters when it become transparent the leaders would clinch the Premiership identify with some extent at Tannadice.

The sport used to be held up early on when various items of fruit had been thrown on at 12.42pm, about 11 mins into the stumble upon. Celtic fanatics chanted concerning the costs because the items of fruit got here on and held up a banner declaring: “Enjoy the fruits of our labour.” The tangerines had been cleared off the pitch by means of each Celtic gamers and United stewards. In the second one part various footballs had been thrown directly to the pitch, resulting in a 2nd prolong.

Before kick-off, a well-observed minute’s silence used to be held for Pope Francis at the day of his funeral. Celtic fanatics additionally paid tribute with banners and Vatican flags and chanted “Papa Francesco” sooner than the silence started and it used to be completely noticed after a couple of early shouts.