Celticvs.Rangers

The Hoops and the Gers lock horns in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park on Sunday, with both Glaswegian giants aiming to win their 119th major trophy.

While holders Rangers are looking to win a record-extending 29th League Cup, Celtic are hoping to get their hands on the trophy for the 22nd time and for the first time since February 2023.

Ahead of this weekend's eagerly-anticipated Old Firm derby, Rodgers was asked about comments made by Rangers manager Philippe Clement, who has suggested that the Gers are underdogs due to the financial differences of the two clubs.

Celtic announced in June that the club has made a profit for the third year in a row with a post-tax amount of £13.4m after revenue of £124.6m, while Rangers suffered a £17.2m loss against £88.3m revenue in the same timeframe.

Rodgers: 'All of Celtic's success has been earned'

Rodgers has insisted that Celtic's recent dominance over their Old Firm rivals is a consequence of efficient management at boardroom level as well as having successful transfer strategy, something that Rangers have craved for some time.

"Philippe will have whatever he feels he needs to look at within ourselves. I'm only really interested in Celtic," Rodgers told reporters on Friday.

"Where Celtic has come to over a number of years, this is a club that's been organically grown. We haven't been handed money. Someone hasn't come in from the Middle East and given us a load of money. This is something that's been grown.

"The leadership from the very top of this club to the bottom is why we have had the successes that we've had. We've grown that, developed that, and that has allowed us then to win. When you win, that brings more success.

"For us, that is all I'm interested in - the greater good of this team and the club. The club's in a brilliant position, but it's all been earned. It's not been handed to us.

"Everyone has the possibility, certainly teams up towards the top, will have the possibility to earn the finances, and if they don't, then okay. We have to worry about ourselves and that's my only interest."

Celtic "hungry" for silverware as Rodgers eyes 10th trophy

Rodgers is bidding to win his 10th trophy as Celtic manager and has said that his team have the hunger to win the first Scottish piece of silverware on offer this season, after missing out on the League Cup final last season.

"It's a really special game, being a Celtic vs. Rangers final," Rodgers said. "We had one in the Scottish Cup final (last season) and there's always a great build up to them.

"There's always a real excitement and for us, it's a special game, but it's the next game, and the next game that we want to win. That's our mindset going in.

"We've enjoyed Hampden, we've enjoyed playing there. The big pitch suits us. There's lots of space for you to play and that's something that, in my time there, we've enjoyed.

"It's a competition that we missed out on last year, so we're very hungry to win this one."

Rodgers has an exceptional record as a manager against Rangers, winning 15, drawing three and losing just one of his 19 Old Firm encounters, most recently steering Celtic to a 3-0 Scottish Premiership win at Parkhead in September.

Written by

Oliver Thomas