Brendan Rodgers mentioned revenge was not Celtic’s goal after they beat Hibernian 2-0 to succeed in the Scottish Cup semi-finals and preserve their home treble hunt on monitor.
The runaway Scottish Premiership leaders, who additionally beat Rangers on penalties to raise the Scottish League Cup earlier than Christmas, gained an entertaining last-eight conflict at Celtic Park.
Daizen Maeda fired into the roof of the online to present them the lead – scoring his twenty seventh aim of the season and thirteenth in his final 13 outings – then Adam Idah struck from a decent angle to kill the tie in second-half stoppage time.
Celtic have been overwhelmed by Hibs when the perimeters met in a league sport at Easter Street simply over a fortnight in the past, however Rodgers says his gamers didn’t want to make use of that outcome as motivation.
“Revenge isn’t a phrase I like to make use of,” he advised reporters after the match.
“We knew this was at all times going to be a troublesome sport for us. Hibs have been sensible during the last three months or so.
“We needed to be good right this moment to get this outcome, and I assumed we have been.
“Now, we will concentrate on our subsequent semi-final and who we’ll play, and simply be certain we’re prepared for that.”
Rodgers, who has gained all 20 of his Scottish Cup ties as Celtic boss, additionally heaped reward on Maeda, who has shone since fellow ahead Kyogo Furuhashi joined Rennes in January.
Da da da da da da da… MAEDA!
Get pleasure from your night, Celts #ScottishCup | #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/dOsct0iNTV
— Celtic Soccer Membership (@CelticFC) March 9, 2025
“You don’t play for Japan in a World Cup as a quantity 9 and rating the objectives he has scored for Japan and Yokohama should you can’t end,” the Hoops boss added.
“He’s not a goal man, however have a look at all of the objectives he scores, all the varied forms of objectives. He’s a goalscorer – possibly not a direct quantity 9 – however he can rating objectives and end, and he’s rising in confidence.”
