Celtic

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Celtic's season was very impressive. A league title effectively won before the Bells; a League Cup; a highly creditable draw at Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stages; and a Scottish Cup final.

If offered that before a ball was kicked, most ers would have happily signed up.

A cracking campaign, yes, but Celtic's 2025 has been far from that. Standards dropped considerably. Seven defeats in five months, albeit two of those were to Aston Villa and Bayern.

Rangers (twice), Hibernian and St Johnstone all got the better of Brendan Rodgers in the Premiership while Aberdeen ruined the treble.

The Parkhead side started the season like a train but went off the rails towards the end. Cause for concern? No. More like pause for thought.

In the absence of the injured Reo Hatate and Jota, Celtic looked short of energy and creativity in the cup final. As they had done at a rather flat trophy day the week before when St Mirren felt unlucky to leave with just a point.

Rodgers fielded the same side at Hampden, much to this correspondent's surprise. With Jota unlikely to feature much - if at all - this year, can Celtic afford to entertain any summer offers for Hatate given the season-ending lack of flair?

More will be expected next term of Arne Engels and Paulo Bernardo. I suspect a creative midfielder is high among Rodgers' priorities when the transfer window opens.

Given Jota's medium-term absence, another winger will almost certainly have to be acquired. Nicolas Kuhn's sensational early-season form tailed off dramatically. Could Celtic be tempted to cash in on him if a decent offer arrives this summer?

The return of Kieran Tierney will bolster Celtic's options in both defence and attack, given his fancy for surging runs down the flank and good deliveries.

The team's tally of 112 Premiership goals en route to the title would suggest they are pretty well off up front. Kyogo Furuhashi wasn't replaced in January, however, and there were several late-season chances ed up by the otherwise excellent Daizen Maeda.

A fast, agile, natural finisher may be underlined in red ink on the manager's summer shopping list.

As will a reliable, quick centre-half with good distribution. Liam Scales has done well enough but Rodgers dropped him in favour of Auston Trusty before bringing the Irish international back when the American's form dipped.

I wonder how much of the estimated £26m the club spent on Trusty, Engels and Adam Idah would be recouped if they were put up for sale now?

Celtic spent big last summer and the manager will be hoping they go large again. And quickly. The club no longer have an automatic place at European football's top table, instead having to come through a play-off.

Can Celtic really afford to wait and see if they strike it rich again before committing to a big spend? Speculating to accumulate is surely the safer option, even for a board that prefers prudence.

Greek side PAOK are lining up a move for 27-year-old Celtic left-back Greg Taylor, who is available on a free transfer this summer after failing to agree a new deal. (Scottish Sun)

Celtic have had a bid rejected for Red Star Belgrade's 17-year-old defender Veljko Milosavljevic, with the Serbian side asking for £8.4m. (Daily Record)

Fenerbahce have ed the race for 27-year-old Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, with their manager Jose Mourinho impressed by his output in the Champions League this season. (Takvim via Scottish Sun)

Jeremie Frimpong has arrived in the UK to complete a transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, with his former club Celtic due a portion of the fee. (Sky Sports)

Bournemouth are one of the clubs interested in Kyogo Furuhashi, who has been transfer listed by Rennes and wants to leave the French outfit just six months following the 30-year-old Japan striker's transfer from Celtic. (La Parisien)

Celtic are interested in g Djurgarden's Keita Kosugi, but face competition for the Japanese defender from Paris St-Germain and Atalanta. (Sponichi, in Japanese)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Tino
Fan writer

Let's be honest, we'd have taken a league and cup double back in August. But walking away from Hampden on Saturday, it was hard to shake the sense of what might have been.

The treble slipped through our fingers. That in itself is a reminder that winning all three trophies is brutally difficult. Celtic have managed it just eight times in 138 years.

Trebles aren't routine, no matter how often we've made them look that way in recent seasons. They demand relentless focus, unshakable depth, and a touch of luck. One off day, one moment of slackness, and it's gone.

Still, a double is a serious achievement. Brendan Rodgers returned to the club under a spotlight, and not all of it was welcoming. But he's now delivered domestic doubles in each of the two seasons since, and for that he should be applauded.

The manager deserves huge credit for guiding a squad that had its challenges throughout the season. New arrivals needed time to bed in and there was the mid-season loss of the talismanic Kyogo Furuhashi, as well as the rigours of a 10-game Champions League campaign.

The league was sealed emphatically, by an incredible 17-point margin, having already overcome closest challengers Rangers in December's League Cup final.

It's a successful season in anyone's book. However, no one at Lennoxtown will be under any illusions about what comes next. This summer is pivotal.

If Celtic want to kick on - not just defend domestic dominance but make further meaningful strides in Europe - recruitment must be sharp, intent must be clear, and the hunger must remain.

Because that's the thing about football at this level. Success isn't a destination - it's a moving target. Standing still is falling behind.

And while a double is something to celebrate, it's also a foundation to build from, not rest on. So yes, there's frustration that the treble got away. That's natural.

But there's also perspective. By and large this team delivered when it mattered and gave the fans silverware and success.

Now, with the right moves in the transfer market and continued evolution under Rodgers, there's every chance next season we can raise the bar again - and perhaps even rekindle that treble dream.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Celtic have told third-choice goalkeeper Scott Bain that he can leave the club on a free transfer having agreed to cut short the 33-year-old's contract by a year as they prepare to bring Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan back to the club as his replacement. (The Herald), external

Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec's agent says there is no concrete offer from Celtic for the 24-year-old who is expected to leave Slovakia this summer. (The Herald), external

Brondby's Benjamin Schmedes is not yet ready to say goodbye to Mathias Kvistgaarden as there are no offers on the table for the 23-year-old despite the striker being linked with Celtic and his head coach thinking he is suited to Europe's top five leagues. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney signed off his six-year stay at Arsenal with a goal in a 2-1 win at Southampton.

The left-back made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute, slotting home Ben White's cross at the near post for Mikel Arteta's side in their final Premier League game of the season.

Fellow Scotland international Ross Stewart equalised for Saints, but Martin Odegaard's 89th-minute strike ensured Tierney ended his time with the Gunners with a victory.

The Celtic academy product, who made 170 appearances in his first spell, will reunite with Brendan Rodgers this summer when he returns to his boyhood club after leaving for London for a reported £25m fee in 2019.

Speaking post-match at St Mary's, Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta said he was "very happy" for the Scotland defender.

"He said yesterday, 'I'm going to score on my last Arsenal match' and he's done it," Arteta told BBC Sport. "He's been a big part of the journey".

Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed a pre-contract agreement to return to former club Celtic this summer. (Press & Journal), external

Celtic will be seeded for next season's Champions League play-off after Rijeka beat Dinamo Zagreb to the Croatian title. (The National), external

Image source, SNS

Celtic defender Liam Scales hopes their cup final heartache can be a "kick up the backside" as he declares they will "be back stronger next season".

His side's aim of a domestic treble was shattered due to Dimitar Mitov's penalty shootout heroics, as Aberdeen lifted their first Scottish Cup since 1990.

Scales, though, is ready to recharge and go again next season, but knows the next few days will hurt for everyone connected with Celtic.

"It's disappointing, but we know now what we have to do next year," he said in the aftermath of their defeat.

"It's not nice to see them picking up the cup. We don't want that to happen again.

"I think everyone needs a bit of a rest and just recovers over the summer.

"The next few days are probably going to be tough, but we've had a good season overall. We've come so close to winning a trophy. Our league campaign was brilliant, our Champions League campaign was brilliant.

"Then we won the League Cup, so there are a lot of positives to take.

"We're full of hunger and drive, but when something like that happens, it kicks you up the backside and boosts you. I just look forward to getting back in next season and going again."

Club captain Callum McGregor stepped up to take the first spot-kick, only for Mitov to save it, leaving the midfielder in tears after the penalties concluded.

Scales reckons that shows the "bravery" of the former Scotland international, and doesn't think any blame should be attributed to him.

"Obviously he leads by example," Scales added.

"He puts us out on the line every week. He plays like every game is his last. He's obviously disappointed to miss the penalty, but we wouldn't put any blame on him at all.

"He was brave enough to step up and take the first one. He's a top, top player and that happens to everyone. It's just football, and you bounce back."

We asked for your views on Celtic's Scottish Cup final defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Peter: Congratulations to Aberdeen. We were dreadful today. Never looked like scoring. Really missed Hatate, our only creative player. Without him, our play was slow and predictable, allowing Aberdeen to set up defensively. Thelin won the tactical battle. We really need a creative midfielder and a proven goal scorer. Keep Maeda quiet, and there is little or no threat. We need better options than we have. Our reserve strikers are not 1st team quality and need to be replaced. Any two trophies area success. Never forget that. Success has to be earned. We have no right to it. The board must back the manager in the transfer market.

Dugi: Celtic didn't turn up today, no intensity to the play. Well done, Aberdeen, a deserved win. Celtic need a forward and a replacement for Kuhn, who is more in the model of Forrest. Too many engers today, we need to keep Taylor if we can, wouldn't be sorry to see Engels, Kuhn, and Idah leave in the summer.

James: Slow and ponderous never looked like breaking down a well-organised defence. No plan B. Well done, Aberdeen.

Nick: I thought we were very flat today. There was no incision and very little threat to the Aberdeen goal. Penalties are a lottery. That's how we won the League Cup and how we lost today. Perhaps we're not as good as we think we are. Anyway, congratulations to Aberdeen.

James: Too much pre-match hype and not enough quality on the pitch. Too many engers combined with really poor performances. Feel sorry for Idah, we played with two wingers and he received no service from them. Time for a serious clear out!!

Frank: Well done, Aberdeen. Celtic lacked a cutting edge today, and came up against a well-drilled Aberdeen side.

Jim: Celtic deserved everything they got today. Two es forward, four es backwards. I looked like they were trying to defend instead of attacking.

John: Aberdeen hung in for the duration and reaped the rewards. Celtic huffed and puffed, which is never enough in cup football. We go again next season.

Thomas: It's pretty obvious that there are far too many engers in this team. Too many players who look good when we're coasting in the league, but struggle in the big, intense games. You only need to look at the games this season vs Rangers as an example.

G: Poor, poor performance that's been coming for a few months too many Celtic players are complacent, also the manager - if players are not doing it, drop them, give others a chance to shine, better shape up or next season's done.

J: It's been obvious for months that complacency has crept into the squad. They thought they could just turn up yesterday and win, and then didn't know what to do when Aberdeen made the game difficult. We didn't do anything to deserve the win yesterday.

Patrick: Delighted for Aberdeen and Scottish football in general, even as a Celtic fan. I felt that Celtic were too arrogant and thought they only needed to show up. That was an appalling schoolboy error from Schmeichel. He cost Celtic a treble.

John: Not enough cutting edge up front given the amount of possession, but credit Aberdeen for their resilience. Get Kyogo back.

Garry: It was a really meek performance. Everyone thought we would walk it again over Aberdeen. I cried at the end, not ashamed to it it, McGregor made me cry and not tears of joy for once. This hurts.

Image source, SNS

Midfielder Callum McGregor tells BBC Scotland: "The worst. The worst moment I've ever had in football. It was a real sore one.

"I just need to go away and try and go over it. And come back next year and be stronger. We didn't do enough in the game to deserve it.

"And then when you get to penalties, it's a bit of a let down. In the last few times, we've come out on the right side of it and today we didn't. It's a real sore way to finish the season.

"Up until this point, it's been an amazing season. We just didn't do enough today to cap it off.

"Well, obviously, it's a tough moment. I've had tough moments before.

"Probably this is the toughest one when you take everything into consideration. So, listen, I've bounced back from difficult situations before. And like I said, it'll take me a while to get over it.

"But once the new season starts, then that's up to me to show everyone that you've got a bit of steel.

"Yeah, I think we're so used to winning that when you don't, then you feel it ten times more.

"You feel it. Like I said, it's probably the worst moment I've had on the football pitch. And for sure, there'll be learning in that.

"It's so raw at the minute. But for sure, the group can learn from it, can be better for it, because sometimes you have to go through a wee bit of adversity to grow and get better.

"And like I said, we're so used to winning that maybe the last couple of times we've turned up and we've managed to get over the line with it, really deserving it."

Aberdeen earned a sensational first Scottish Cup victory in 35 years as Dimitar Mitov's penalty shootout saves from Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston ensured they came from behind at Hampden to deny Celtic a treble.

Celtic fans, we want your views following your side's loss in the Scottish Cup final.

Where did it go wrong? What did you make of your side's penalties?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "That's why it's such a great achievement when you can win all the domestic trophies.

"But firstly, congratulations to Aberdeen. The game could have gone either way, so we've got no excuse. We didn't do enough today, I didn't feel. It was all a bit safe.

"Our quality, our running, especially in the final third. We had a lot of the ball, but we lacked our combinations, our speed in the final third, our runs. When you play like that, and Aberdeen defend well, that made it difficult for us.

"With the greatest respect, it was more ourselves. We failed to get to the level you need to get to. We've played against a 5-3-2 so many times this season, scored goals against it. But you have to be slick, precise, running, and not be safe.

"There were too many times where we weren't getting turned, we were setting the ball back. You need that personality. Unfortunately, that combination of not being at our level and Aberdeen being very motivated to defend, we couldn't quite make the breakthrough.

"It wasn't complacency, no. We had a real desire and hunger to win the game. It just happens, we were very safe in our midfield. Not penetrating enough with and without the ball in those areas.

"We came inside a little too often. It's a cup final, it can happen. You have to earn it. Doesn't matter what's happened before in the league. You have to earn victories here at Hampden. Sadly we weren't able to do it.

"That is football, that's sport. We're not robots. It shows you how incredible this club, and group of players, have been - to be so consistently good.

"Looking at the bigger picture, we won the league title, won the League Cup, sadly we just couldn't go that next step.

"It's been a really good season for us. This will hurt. That's your motivation, that drives you going into next season.

"There's no doubt that any setback you have provides that stimulus and motivation going forward. It's a sore one today.

"But we can't have any complaints, we always look at ourselves and we didn't do enough in the offensive side of the game."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

This was a Celtic canter in the making, according to almost everyone.

Recent walkovers against this Aberdeen side suggested no other outcome than another trophy and another treble for Celtic.

The script was firmly ripped up and thrown in the bin.

It was anyone's trophy in the end as the game swung back and forth after Aberdeen's equaliser, even if Celtic still were more on the front-foot.

In truth, the Scottish champions didn't do enough and met an Aberdeen side who gave everything to get this famous win over the line.

Captain McGregor's incredible run of cup final wins is over. Rodgers remains tied with Jock Stein on two trebles when it seemed inevitable he'd be out on his own.

Having publicly declared his intent to remain at Celtic next season, he will surely demand backing to keep winning domestically and build on progress in Europe.

Defeat here is undoubtedly a blow. One that will irk over the summer. A reminder that in cup finals, it's never as straightforward or easy as everyone might think.

Read the full match report here.

Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is unsurprised by Callum McGregor and James Forrest's success at the club, having watched them in training for the past season.

Celtic are tracking Moroccan forward Youssef El Kachati, the 25-year-old who found the net as Telstar beat Den Bosch on Friday in their promotion play-off to the Eredivisie, is out of contract this summer and is attracting interest from across Europe. (Mail), external

Guincamp head coach Sylvain Ripoll has told Le Telegramme that their tricky financial predicament means they will have to sell players this summer - amid Celtic's reported interest in 26-year-old midfielder Kalidou Sidibe. (Record), external

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda, 27, has been rested by Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu for two dead rubber games to come in their group, away to Australia and at home to Indonesia, after already qualifying for the World Cup finals. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip