Brendan Rodgers reveals the extra meaning fuelling poignant viral Celtic gesture that is all about next season
The Hoops gaffer made a beeline for the emotional Callum McGregor who missed the first penalty
Gutted Brendan Rodgers told inconsolable Callum McGregor he's incredible after the Celtic skipper broke down in tears after blowing a shot at another Treble.
Rodgers made a beeline for the emotional captain who missed the first penalty in the dramatic spot kick defeat to Aberdeen.
It was a first time McGregor had ever tasted defeat in a final - his FIFTEENTH with Celtic.
Rodgers admits his side were nowhere near good enough.
But the Parkhead boss - who revealed Kasper Schmeichel had apologised for the blunder that handed Aberdeen a route back into the game - insists he will return after the summer ever more determined to deliver a clean sweep.
And he expects McGregor to be the exact same.
He said: 'Cal's such a conscientious guy. He gives so much to this club.
'Obviously as skipper he's so disappointed he hasn't scored.
'But I was just reminding him of how much of an incredible leader he really is for this club.
'He's given so much to this season and to all the seasons I've ever known him. He's such an amazing guy and it's unfortunate the keeper makes the save.
'He'll come back in the summer, stronger, fitter and ready to go again.'
Rodgers was on the brink of history as the first Celtic manager to win three Trebles.
But just as it looked like Alfie Dorrington's own goal would be enough to clinch the final piece of silverware of the season, Schmeichel dropped a clanger.
Aberdeen held firm to take the game to spot kicks and, just as they did when they last won the cup in 1990, delivered a knockout blow to the Hoops from 12 yards.
For Rodgers - who also lifted the FA Cup with Leicester - it was a first final he has ever lost.
But he said: 'Clearly, while we're very disappointed, we know that we didn't play anywhere near the standard needed.
'Congratulations to them to win the trophy and take it back to Aberdeen.
'We can have no complaints. We didn't do enough in the game.
'We were very slow. They played how a lot of teams do against us to sit deep.
'We've played many games against that structure and got through it with speed and runs and tempo.
'But it didn't feel like that. We didn't create so much. We didn't break any lines with or without the ball.
'We were very safe and sometimes that's what cup finals can bring.
'There's no doubt we missed Reo Hatate, just his ability to take it off the back foot and play forward and run forward.
'But our speed in our game and our tempo wasn't at the right level to create the opportunities that normally we would.
'Kasper's obviously apologetic to his team-mates. But he's been outstanding for us all season.
'It was one of those moments in the game late on that can happen.
'We still had one or two other chances that we could have scored from. It's just unfortunate at that time in the game.'
Rodgers ensured his players stayed back to watch Aberdeen lift the silverware - and told them to use it as motivation next season.
He added: 'It shows the expectation to get the three trophies - that's very much there.
'We want to embrace that. And I always look to deliver that. You can't always do it. But it's something that's definitely always in our thinking.
'Like I said, to the guys, when you stand there and you watch the opponent picking up the trophy, you have to show that humility and congratulate them. But use it as a motivation for the next season.'
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