Brendan must play his strongest Celtic team against Kilmarnock

The Celtic Star

·18 janvier 2025

Brendan must play his strongest Celtic team against Kilmarnock

Celtic’s strongest XI is needed today in the Scottish Cup tie with Kilmarnock, we can’t risk having even one eye on Wednesday night…

Daizen Maeda of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Scottishl Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee United at Celtic Park on January 08, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Later this afternoon we kick off our defence of the Scottish Cup at Celtic Park against Kilmarnock in the 5.30pm kick-off.

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Wednesday’s vital Champions League clash against Young Boys

As we don’t have the luxury of playing a lower league side we will have to play our strongest possible side, even if there is inevitably one eye on Wednesday’s vital Champions League clash against Young Boys, if we want to win today’s fourth round tie.

Nicolas Kühn and Alistair Johnston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on January 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Our are Kilmarnock who we have already been victorious against in our two meetings this campaign winning 4-0, and 2-0 respectively so we should have plenty of confidence heading into the game. However this is a cup tie, and we will have to be at our best if we want to progress to the next round. Just before 7.30pm this evening we will either by in the Scottish Cup and a step closer to Hampden or we will be out with the chances of a ninth treble gone.

Kilmarnock are very well organised under Derek McInnes

Killie are very well organised under Derek McInnes as we know from last season, and we can’t afford to treat the game lightly. McInnes has been boosted by Dundee’s performance at Dens Park that rattled the Celtic defence in midweek and he is canny enough to appreciate that Celtic minds might inevitably straw towards the Champions League encounter with the Swiss Champions which Chris Sutton yesterday described as “Celtic’s World Cup Final.”

Dundee’s third goal. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

It’s an early evening kick off, and with a decent crowd expected it has the makings of a great game. At full strength and under the lights I’m confident we can get the result we require as we bid to keep our treble dream alive.

Brendan Rodgers yesterday spoke to The Celtic Star

Brendan yesterday spoke to The Celtic Star about getting some real momentum through this little run of three home matches in three separate competitions. Three victories will see us progress in the Scottish Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Scottish Premiership as we get set to travel down to Birmingham for the game against Aston Villa.

Brendan Rodgers. Dens Park, Dundee v Celtic. 14th January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Brendan said: “Yes, I think it’s great. I think that, as I said earlier, we were on a really busy schedule there and I think the players in the main have come out of it really, really well.

“I’ve said many times, we love being at home and we’ve got three really exciting games now and the various competitions just to keep moving forward. And that starts with the Scottish Cup game. So, we’re all excited by it and getting into the next round and then we can prepare and get ready for a really big night on Wednesday.”

Let’s get the first of three wins today with our strongest team against Kilmarnock….

COYBIG!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy