It’s been a chaotic week for Celtic.
Starting with falling eight points behind Hearts in the Scottish Premiership after a 3-1 defeat, Brendan Rodgers was acting as if everything was normal.
Then on Monday, Rodgers’ shock resignation stunned Scottish football. John Kennedy and numerous other coaches left with him – despite promising to see out his three years, it wasn’t to be.
Dermot Desmond’s extraordinary statement laid bare just how intense the relationship breakdown had been between the club’s two most important figures. The story probably isn’t over there.
Interim boss Martin O’Neill steadied the ship with a comfortable 4-0 win against Falkirk on Wednesday – but the real test will come on Sunday at Hampden.
Chris Sutton on Celtic Premier Sports Cup semi-final vs Rangers
It hasn’t just been chaotic at Celtic Park – across the city, things have been even more turbulent.
The worst league start in the club’s history led to Russell Martin being sacked and replaced by Danny Rohl. It will be two fresh faces in the dugouts the national stadium this weekend.
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Chris Sutton was covering the Ibrox side’s 1-0 win against Hibs at Easter Road, which saw them move to third place in the table.
After a goalless draw in the first Glasgow Derby of the season at Ibrox, it remains to be seen if the Hoops can step up in a game as big as Sunday. They haven’t in a while.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Sutton said: “It’s absolutely enormous. It’s triumph or disaster. That’s what it really is.
“Rangers players talking about getting momentum – they have, a little bit. Celtic will feel from their game this evening that they’re getting a little bit of momentum.
“But that first trophy of the season is so, so important. If Rangers can beat Celtic, there will be a totally different confidence in the Rangers camp. And maybe Celtic as well, albeit Rangers have been poor this season.
“The first game this season between Rangers and Celtic was dreadful. Is this one going to be better? We just don’t know.
“Because of both sides and their inconsistencies, it could be anything.”
Celtic’s recent record against Rangers at Hampden
If Rohl is to get the result he wants, he will have to stop an impressive run of Hoops wins against their rivals at the national stadium.
But the last one didn’t come without drama. The 2024 final of this competition was a 3-3 draw which the Hoops won on penalties – it was one of the most dramatic Glasgow Derbies in recent memory.
Adam Idah’s last-minute winner in the 2024 Scottish Cup final will go down in the club’s history – it made his permanent signing inevitable. Jack Butland claimed an excellent assist for it.
The season prior saw Ange Postecoglou knock Michael Beale’s side out of both cup competitions at Hampden. The Hoops haven’t lost to Rangers at Hampden since the Scottish Cup semi-final of 2022.
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