What did we learn when Celtic boss Rodgers met Faddy?
Scottish Cup final: Aberdeen v CelticVenue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday, 24 May Time: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland, listen on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app
Brendan Rodgers could be the first manager of Celtic to win three domestic trebles if his team claim Scottish Cup final victory over Aberdeen on Saturday.It's been another season of triumphs for the country's pre-eminent side and, as the Hampden showpiece loomed, the manager sat down with BBC Scotland pundit James McFadden to reflect upon the campaign.So what did we learn when Rodgers met Faddy?
Players were 'suffering' after Dortmund defeat
James McFadden: The first big setback of the season was the Dortmund game [7-1 Champions League loss]. How quickly after the game did you know that your team were ready to bounce back? Brendan Rodgers: Looking at the players, I could see in their eyes directly in the changing room afterwards that they were suffering and probably some of them - a lot of them - knew what was probably coming as well. So that was the moment I'm thinking, 'right, we need to get this back on track'.We travelled back and had a day off, then I'd did a mini-presentation for the players when they came back in.It was talking about setbacks and about how, whether it's in football or in life, that's when you learn your most in those adverse moments.Then we had to go to Ross County and that was going to be important for us to win because there was a feeling that it's still after Dortmund.But the players responded well and that's something that you have to do as a footballer.
Working out Aberdeen's plan
JM: What are you expecting from Aberdeen?BR: One or two things, really. Are they going to press, like they've done in a number of the games and which gives us space when we play through that pressure?Or are they going to defend lower and deeper? You have to think of a different team for that type of game.We've done really well against them. The performance level has been high. But it's a final and they'll want to show that they're there to compete. But so do we.
Rodgers 'really enjoyed' watching team
JM: What have you made of this season as a whole?BR: I've been so satisfied. I really enjoyed watching the team play. From the beginning of pre-season, the foundations we put in then, I was really excited to see the team play, especially after the games that we played in America.We started the season so well. Some of the football that we played... over the course of the season, we scored 112 goals, which shows you the real attacking intent of the team.I was really proud of how we came back from setbacks, because they can cause you problems, especially at big clubs because when you lose the noise is massive. But we were able to quell a lot of that and just keep the players really positive and they showed an amazing mentality to keep coming back. So, I've been so pleased. You're never going to play 57-odd games at 100 miles an hour all the time.But for large parts of the season, our football has been really good. The balance in the game, attacking and defending has been good.
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