Brendan Rodgers stockpile of Celtic trophies blows club hero away but boss will see Scottish Cup Final like it's his first
Charlie Mulgrew finds it hard to believe the amount of trophies Rodgers has racked up but knows he treats every one like it's his first
Brendan Rodgers is gunning for a record third Treble as Celtic boss.
But Charlie Mulgrew reckons the secret to the Northern Irishman's success is that he treats every trophy like his first.
The ex-Parkhead star has been blown away by Rodgers ' relentless stockpiling of silverware with Saturday's Scottish Cup Final a chance for his 12th winners' medal.
Mulgrew's first Cup memory was as a kid tuning in to watch Pierre van Hooijdonk end a brutal six-year trophy drought.
He was thousands of miles away back then, living with his family in Canada, but the current Celtic side are a million miles from those grim days of the early 90s.
Mulgrew – who won five league titles and two Scottish Cups with Celts – said: 'I grew up in the 90s and the first trophy I remember was watching Pierre score at Hampden in 1995 against Airdrie.
'I was living in Canada at the time and we watched it in a pub. At that time Rangers were dominating and you get to the final, it was a tight game and Pierre scored a header.
'Trophies were few and far between back then, never mind Trebles. So I don't ever take these times for granted.
'I also know how hard it is, having played there and watched them, and how hard it is to win a trophy, where every game is a cup final for rival teams.
'Celtic are going for a sixth Treble in nine years – which is unbelievable. The good thing about Brendan and the team, is that they'll be able to step up and treat it as it's the first trophy in nine years.
'That's the attitude they'll be needing and that's the mentality Brendan shows in this team.'
That 1995 final was also on Mulgrew's mind when he became a Scottish Cup hero for the Hoops. The big defender slammed in a screamer of a free-kick to seal the 3-0 win against Motherwell in 2011 and help kick-start a new era of dominance that's lasted more than a decade.
He said: 'Talk about that Pierre goal, then all of a sudden it was me on that pitch, scoring that goal and celebrating with the fans.
'It was a surreal experience because obviously growing up a fan and watching it, and then all of a sudden it's you that scored that goal – albeit it wasn't a winning goal – but scoring at Hampden and winning my first trophy since coming back, it was brilliant.
'The day before we practised free-kicks and I remember it was a new kind of Adidas ball. It moved a lot so I was out early, hitting a few and I thought if I get a chance, I'm just going to hit it.
'I just put my head down and struck through the ball and luckily it went in. I knew it right away. It's a bit like golf when you hit a good shot – you know right away. But I'm not so confident at golf, this one went straight!
'It was an amazing feeling, obviously, to score in front of Celtic fans at Hampden, and the last day of the season. The way the campaign ended, we got beaten on the last day for the league, so to go and finish on a high like that was brilliant.'
Mulgrew also notched in the semis that year against his old club Aberdeen – who now stand in Celtic's way this weekend.
The Hoops are huge favourites and the former Scotland man can see why. Celtic have stuck 19 goals past the Dons in five games this season – including six at Hampden in the League Cup semi-final and five at Parkhead and Pittodrie.
Chuck in the fact Jimmy Thelin's Dons men have been in freefall in recent weeks to slump to a fifth-place finish in the Premiership and it's little wonder even the Red Army are fearing the worst.
Mulgrew knows the old line about it being a cup final and anything can happen. But he just can't see any way Aberdeen will be able to halt the march towards a clean sweep.
Mulgrew said: 'It's hard to see past them. Aberdeen have lost their last four games, albeit it's a cup final and they know they need to sort of save their season with a result.
'You would imagine their fans will show up and be demanding of them. But I don't see an angle where you can put a fight up for Aberdeen to get a win.
'Even if they start well and get a lead or whatever, you just imagine Brendan will be able to do enough to get Celtic over the line and lift the trophy.
'For Aberdeen, it can go from winning the first 12 games of the season, and potentially finishing second in the league, to finishing in fifth and losing their last five games of the season.
'All of a sudden the season doesn't look so good.
'I'm sure Thelin will make them aware of that and have them fired up for this one.
'They'll be trying to keep it tight for as long as they can and try to stay in the game.
'That's been a wee bit of their problem, you see them losing goals quite easily, quite soft, and I think fixing that has got to be their main aim because you can't see them dominating possession here.
'Listen, Aberdeen have got it in them to give a game. They gave Celtic a fright at Parkhead earlier in the season so Celtic won't be complacent.'
● Charlie Mulgrew was speaking at a Scottish Gas media event. Scottish Gas is the proud partner of the men's Scottish Cup.
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