Latest news with #BrendanRodgers'
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Collum explains key decision that went Celtic's way vs Rangers
The Irish striker thought he levelled up the match in the second half, only to see the linesman's flag raised as he wheeled away in celebration. After communication with VAR, however, a factual overturn was recommended, and Brendan Rodgers' men equalised. Read more: Initially, an offside was given for Daizen Maeda's run in behind Rangers' backline. The Japanese forward was also subsequently the subject of another check for perhaps obstructing Liam Kelly's view. There was adjudged to have been no wrongdoing, though, and the goal was given. "It's the correct decision for us in the end," said Collum on the SFA's VAR review show. "The first offside is what the assistant referee is punishing. He believes that the Celtic player who is out wide is in an offside position. That is not the case. "There's a correct delay [of the flag] to allow the move to come to a natural conclusion. "A goal is then scored. Then they award the initial offside out wide. The VAR quickly checks that and come to the conclusion it's onside. "I want to mention again we would prefer these decisions are correct on field, but VAR is there for that reason. "Then there is good on-field comms from the referee because he mentions that there is a potential second offside. I think it's the Rangers goalkeeper who also claims for that. The VAR are then allowed the opportunity to check that. "You can see they come to a conclusion, correctly, that there is no impact in any line of vision. "This is a factual overturn, and there is no need for the referee to come to the monitor here. "We're really pleased with that."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Secrets of an Aberdeen Scottish Cup shock as departing star reveals how Jimmy Thelin outfoxed Celtic
The local hero signs off from Pittodrie on the ultimate high after upsetting the odds against Brendan Rodgers' side Local hero Jack MacKenzie feared his Aberdeen career was going to end on the ultimate low but was delighted it ended on the ultimate high of lifting the Scottish Cup. The defender helped Jimmy Thelin's side to dramatically see off Brendan Rodgers' side on penalties to bring the trophy back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years. It had come just a week after he had suffered a nasty head injury after a seat had been allegedly thrown from the Aberdeen section in their Premiership defeat to Dundee United. He had to be stretchered off the park, needed several stitches and left him sweating over his cup final place. Thankfully, he was able to make a full recovery for Hampden and MacKenzie's last act as an Aberdeen player saw him fulfil his lifelong dream of taking a Cup down the main streets of his home city. The 25-year-old said: 'We had heard a lot about it being 35 years. I am 25 and to go and lift it in my final game for the club is a dream come true. 'There was no better way to finish. 'I have just had the most amazing time at Aberdeen. I joined the club when I was nine and I never thought I would still have been here at 25. To top it off with the cup win made it absolutely perfect.' The right-back was first up to pick up his medal and was the last of the team to lift the trophy aloft before he took it down to the Hampden turf for the celebrations. He said: 'I just headed down the stairs with the trophy and I gave it to the chairman. I walked down the steps with it. I can't actually put into words what it meant. 'You just don't realise what it really means until you actually do it. When we won the penalty shootout I couldn't believe it and then it took a few days to really sink in. 'It is ridiculous especially with the way the league season ended and us missing out on fourth. 'It was a huge blow but to win the cup was the perfect end. If I have a better day in football than at Hampden then I will be amazed.' Dimitar Mitov was the Celtic penalty hero with two saves in the shootout. MacKenzie joked he was on penalty number 12. When Mitov denied Alistair Johnston, Graeme Shinnie sank to his knees, the rest of the team ran to their keeper and MacKenzie made a beeline for the Red Army. He stated: 'No, I ran the opposite way. I ran straight to the fans. 'I looked around and saw everybody had run to Mitov but my first reaction was to run to the fans. I am one of them. 'I can't recall the next 20 minutes after that. It was just incredible. It felt miles better than I ever thought it would.' Aberdeen upset the odds and ripped up the form book to lift the Cup. They had lost their final four league games, slumped to fifth and had lost four-in-a-row to Celtic. MacKenzie admitted it was the manager Thelin who gave them the belief they could do it. The Scotland squad player stated: 'I had a feeling we were going to do it, I think the whole group had a feeling. 'We had lost those four games and included in that was the defeat to Celtic. 'I have to say the belief all came from the manager. He just instilled it into us that we were going to win. 'We believed going into the game we would win. We just felt that it was going to be our year. 'We all stepped up when it mattered. From Dimi saving from Maeda to all the penalties, where the quality was unbelievable.' For the likes of Shinnie, Jack Milne and MacKenzie they are all Aberdeen boys and knew what it meant to the club and the city. Mackenzie said: 'Graeme is from here and Jack and I have been here since we were very young. 'To take the Scottish Cup back to your home city, it doesn't get any better. I felt 10ft tall. It can't get any better. 'It means a wee bit more but all the foreign boys have taken to the club as well. It is like a real family and a proper Aberdeen team." How big this cup win was clear on Sunday when 100,000 fans turned Aberdeen city centre into a sea of red and white. 'I couldn't believe how many people were there,' MacKenzie claimed. 'It is only then you realise what a big deal it is to the whole city. 'My mum, dad, girlfriend, my sister and her partner and some others. 'It was nice to have everyone see and to get a picture with them all was amazing. It was just massive. "I lived the dream and now I will be going back to being an Aberdeen fan. I am excited to see where the team kicks on from here.'
Press and Journal
3 days ago
- Business
- Press and Journal
Scottish Premiership title odds: The startling difference between Aberdeen and Hearts
One bookmaker has raised eyebrows after revealing their odds on who will win next season's Scottish Premiership title. Unsurprisingly, Ladbrokes have installed Brendan Rodgers' Celtic as the 4/11 favourites after they finished 17 points clear this season. Rangers are expected to be their closest challengers once again and priced at 9/4 to claim the title. The odds then take an interesting turn with Hearts priced at 16/1 while Aberdeen and Hibernian are both available at a far more generous 150/1. This might be a surprise to Dons fans who saw their team win the Scottish Cup by defeating Celtic last weekend. Hearts, who failed to make the top six, will head into the new campaign with Derek McInnes at the helm after the ex-Aberdeen manager was confirmed as Neil Critchley's successor at the end of the campaign. Earlier this week, the Hearts shareholders approved a £10m investment offer from Brighton owner Tony Bloom. The Gorgie club has a formal relationship with Bloom's company Jamestown Analytics for recruitment. Elsewhere, Ladbrokes have priced Dundee United at 200/1, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and St Mirren at 750/1 while newly promoted Falkirk and Livingston are 1000/1.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic set up glamour friendlies against European giants in pre-season tournament in Italy ahead of title defence
Brendan Rodgers' side are to face Cesc Fabregas' Como outfit and Dutch heavyweights Ajax in July LA DOLCE VITA Celtic set up glamour friendlies against European giants in pre-season tournament in Italy ahead of title defence Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC will face Como and Ajax in a summer tournament in Italy. The Serie A club are hosting matches in July. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 3 Celtic's Callum McGregor Credit: Willie Vass 3 Como boss Cesc Fabregas Credit: Getty 3 Ajax will be one of the teams Brendan Rodgers' side will face Credit: AFP And SunSport understands Brendan Rodgers' Premiership champions have accepted an invitation to take part. Celts are due to play Cork in Ireland on Tuesday July 8. They'll then fly to Portugal, for an eight-day preseason training camp, which is expected to include a match against Sporting Lisbon in Faro. The Hoops will return to Scotland to take on Newcastle at home in a glamour friendly on Saturday July 19. But there is then a two-week gap before the league season kicks off on August 2 - with Celts' Champions League play-off almost three weeks later. And they've jumped at the opportunity to take on two tough games. Como - bossed by ex-Arsenal and Spain star Cesc Fabregas - are staging their own tournament. They have a partnership with Dutch giants Ajax who have agreed to be involved. Como chiefs have also struck a deal with Celtic with Rodgers' side playing games on July 24th and July 26th before flying home for the start of their title defence. As yet the details have not been confirmed by the clubs. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Watch Premier Sports Cup group stage for free as Hearts, Kilmarnock and Motherwell plot route to Hampden glory
The 40 participating clubs from up and down the Scottish football pyramid will learn just who they will be facing in the group stage this afternoon. The SPFL season has only just ended but the start of a brand new campaign is just around the corner. And to get the ball rolling, we only have the matter of a draw for the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup this afternoon. 40 clubs from the Premiership, Championship, League One, League Two, Highland League and Lowland League will battle it out to finish top spot in the eight groups, with the three best runners' up also progressing to the knockout rounds. Lowland League winners and newly promoted League Two side East Kilbride are back in the competition for another year and will be eyeing up stellar ties against the likes of Hearts, Dundee and Motherwell. Despite missing out to EK in the play-offs, Highland League winners Brora Rangers are also in the hat, as well as runners-up Brechin City. Ross County and St Johnstone are reeling from their relegations from the top flight, but having both won the League Cup in the last decade, will be dreaming of a magical run to Hampden later this year. The 11 teams who reach the first knockout round will then be joined by the Premiership's European representatives, Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Dundee United and Aberdeen. Brendan Rodgers' Hoops will enter the competition as the defending champions after their epic penalty shootout victory against Rangers last December and will be hoping to get off to a flying start when the first knockout round getting underway in August. But before then, we have a whole load of fun to get through, with the group stages of the cup kicking off on the weekend of July 12. And you can follow today's live group stage draw from 1pm right HERE. Watch the Premier Sports Cup 2025/26 group stage draw live Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
