Celtic beat Rangers in League Cup closing: Speaking factors from Hampden Park as Brendan Rodgers’ aspect win Previous Agency conflict | Soccer information

The primary trophy of the season belongs to Celtic after a traditional Previous Agency League Cup closing, however what have we discovered from this dramatic encounter?

There was rigidity, drama, targets and controversy at Hampden Park on Sunday, with Hoops defender Liam Scales summing up the afternoon completely: “good and loopy”.

Having break up six targets in 90 minutes, and nonetheless nothing to separate the groups after additional time, it took penalties to separate the groups and produce the acquainted results of a Celtic victory in opposition to their Previous Agency rivals.

As Celtic look to construct on their newest triumph and Rangers purpose to bounce again from a merciless defeat, this is a have a look at what we discovered from a match that can go down within the historical past books…

Can Celtic’s quest for trebles be stopped?

Primarily based on the season to date, it is exhausting to argue in opposition to Celtic securing one other home treble.

After they play at their peak they sweep groups away, when they’re under their finest they nonetheless handle to get a outcome.

Brendan Rodgers’ solely defeat this season got here in opposition to Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League, whereas their solely failure domestically was a 2-2 draw in opposition to Aberdeen.

Cameron Carter-Vickers says the main focus is now “on the Championship marketing campaign and the Scottish Cup”. The Hoops are 9 factors clear on this Premiership title race, and their protection’s first Scottish Cup opponent is Kilmarnock – a crew they’ve crushed by six within the final two league conferences this season with out response.

The League Cup was the one trophy Celtic did not win final season. Earlier than Christmas it sits within the trophy cupboard at Celtic Park. Defender Liam Scales stated it was “huge” for his crew to win, including “it units us up effectively”. Few can argue with that.

Rodgers’ crew wins trophy bragging rights

Celtic have regained the title of Scotland’s most profitable membership for the primary time in virtually 87 years.

Their victory at Hampden Park means the Hoops have 119 main trophies, one forward of their rivals on 118.

The final time Celtic received extra trophies than Rangers was after they received the league on April 23, 1938 with a victory over St Mirren on the previous Love Avenue in Paisley.

Rangers restored parity by profitable the title the next yr, then edged out the Hoops in subsequent years. That was till Celtic leveled the desk final season with their Scottish Cup victory and took the lead on Sunday.

With Rodgers’ aspect main the title race, one may count on them so as to add to their tally and benefit from the bragging rights slightly longer.

Is the hole between the previous firm narrowing?

A lot has been fabricated from Gers boss Philippe Clément’s claims that Celtic have been “financially out of our league”.

Profitable participant exchanges and Champions League qualification noticed the Hoops publish £17.8m in pre-tax income final season, whereas Rangers posted a internet lack of £17.2m of kilos sterling over the identical interval. Celtic even have £77million within the financial institution.

This noticed Rodgers win 10 of the 11 trophies he performed in over two spells in Scotland. Wanting on the greater image, the hole continues to be evident.

Nevertheless, in one-off encounters in opposition to their rivals, Rangers followers consider there may be purpose to consider once more.

It is a recreation they’ve received simply as soon as within the final 14 conferences – a 3-0 win at Ibrox after Celtic had already received the title – however the Scottish Cup closing from final season and Sunday’s League Cup closing noticed the Gers conflict. with their rivals, though they narrowly misplaced each occasions.

The sensation within the Ibrox dressing room is that the newest defeat was undeserved and vice-captain Jack Butland insists their ugly run in opposition to their rivals will quickly finish.

“We are able to take lots from this and that’s why it hurts a lot,” he stated after Sunday’s loss. “In the present day goes to harm for a very long time.

“This efficiency confirmed that we now have the qualities to compete and beat them. For us, it’s only a matter of time.”

Captain James Tavernier highlighted their enchancment since September’s 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park within the Premiership. When January 2 arrives, when Celtic journey to Ibrox, the time for dialogue will cease. Rangers gamers should show they’re appropriate in believing the hole on the sector has narrowed.

How can the Rangers save their season?

Clement stated after the loss that the Rangers are “getting higher and higher” and that “cannot cease the starvation and want that’s within the crew to get higher and higher.”

He additionally burdened that now will not be the time to “discuss titles” given what number of factors they’re behind Celtic, as he vowed to take it one recreation at a time to try to slim the hole .

A victory in opposition to Celtic on January 2 dwell on Sky Sports activitieswould give followers one thing to cheer about after two years of heartbreak in opposition to their fierce rivals.

Rangers have had a very good Europa League marketing campaign to date however, in the end, it is the trophies that rely.

Successful the Scottish Cup would finish the season on a excessive as they give the impression of being to construct one other title problem.

What does defeat imply for Clément?

It has been six video games in opposition to Celtic with out a win for the Rangers boss, however the method during which this one has resulted in optimism quite than criticism.

There was extra combating in current weeks and the truth that they got here again from defeat twice earlier than shedding on penalties has inspired the supporters.

Simply over a month in the past, many believed {that a} defeat within the League Cup closing may finish the Belgian’s tenure at Ibrox.

Nevertheless, he promised that its reconstruction would present indicators of coming to fruition in October or November. We’re a couple of weeks away, however convincing league wins, a powerful draw in opposition to Spurs and a penalty shootout defeat to Celtic have given these across the membership purpose to consider once more.

There isn’t any denying he must ship one other string of spectacular outcomes, discover a solution to beat Celtic and function astutely within the January switch window. With a brand new CEO and chairman now in place at Rangers, it is time for everybody to take inventory and decide what wants to vary if they’re to realize success and silverware.