As Celtic supporters, we have gotten used to winning trebles over the past decade or so.
So much so that whenever we don’t manage to win one, it feels really disappointing. But that is the bar Brendan Rodgers set in his first tenure as the Celtic manager.
The Irishman’s Celtic side at that time was imperious in 2016 as they went on to win an incredible Invincibles Treble that kicked off the Quadruple Treble era. They made it look easy.
But as everyone knows, winning every domestic trophy available every year is an extremely difficult thing to do and Rodgers used yesterday’s cup exit to highlight that point
Rodgers said [Daily Record], “I think (because) I came in here before and won trebles, people think that’s just what you come in and do. It is a very difficult thing and you see this defeat that magnifies the achievement from before.
“It is a new cycle and I want to win every game as the Celtic manager and this is bitterly disappointing. Of course, it is always a setback when you go out of a cup competition.
“But we have 24 hours to get over it and there is a long season ahead and many things to play for so that is what we will work on.
“I said at the beginning when I came in here that this was not a continuation. Good teams aren’t born. There are new players in, players have left. So we have to work very hard and if we think that it is just going to happen then that will not be the case at Celtic.”
It’s the manner of the defeat that concerns Celtic fans
Celtic fans know that the reality of winning a treble year in, year out is just not going to happen. Supporters of my vintage had never witnessed the club win one until Martin O’Neill achieved it in 2001.
But Rodgers kicked off the real golden era of success for the Celtic fans in 2016. The Quadruple Treble is something that had never been achieved before in footballing history and the supporters loved every minute of it.
And whilst yesterday’s defeat was very disappointing, the manner of it was more alarming. The team seemed devoid of ideas to break down a Kilmarnock side that they have consistently beaten over the past five seasons.
I suppose the warning signs were all there. Against Ross County and Aberdeen, we looked shaky at points and whilst we ended up comfortable winners in both matches, there were signs that this team has not quite gelled as quickly as we would like.
But it is still early days in the season. There is still a league and the Scottish Cup to defend and performances need to improve drastically.
In other news, Pat Bonner ‘expects’ significant transfer movement after Celtic’s cup exit
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