Hibs boss David Gray shares what he thinks about Celtic ahead of League Cup tie

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As Celtic prepare to face Kilmarnock on Sunday for Flag Day, it was League Cup business that was grabbing the attention of Hibs manager, David Gray.

Newly appointed to the position after taking on the caretaker role at the end of last season, Gray faces a trip to Celtic Park for the cup tie on the weekend of the 18th of August as Brendan Rodgers looks to win the one piece of silverware that eluded him last season.

And as the Hibs boss was grilled on his thoughts on the draw, Gray believes that his team is one of only a few who can stand up and be counted against Rodgers’ Celtic.

Gray lauds ‘very powerful’ Celtic as League Cup ‘favourites’

Whilst Brendan Rodgers continues his unfinished work in the transfer market, Gray talked up the strength of Celtic ahead of the meeting between the two clubs.

Gray said [Edinburgh Evening News] “We are probably one of the teams who are capable of going there and causing an upset.

“So it’s definitely going to be our full focus, 100 per cent, going into that game. It’s a good challenge.

“If you want to win a cup, you have to beat the best. Celtic were the best last season, and I expect them to be very powerful this season.

“It’s a difficult draw. But on any given day, that has to be the challenge, that we go and win the game. It’s a one-off game, we need to have a plan to win it.

“You need to believe you can win. I’ve seen that repeatedly at times over the years.

“The expectation will be on Celtic to win, 100 per cent. Naturally, with the position they’re in, they’re favourites.”

Celtic’s excellent League Cup record vs Hibernian

Celtic have a superb record against Hibs in the League Cup. Since the year 2000, the Hoops have faced the Edinburgh side on no less than five occasions in the tournament.

Winning four, Celtic’s only defeat was in season 2003/04 after losing 2-1 at the quarter-final stage. Since then the Parkhead side has won 4-1 in 2011 and 4-2 and 5-2 at the semi-final stage in 2017 and 2019 respectively. [Transfermarkt]

However, the most memorable League Cup win was the 2021 Kyogo Furhashi final where the Japanese striker scored a double to land Ange Postecoglou his first piece of silverware as the Celtic manager.

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a similar result this month as the Celtic boss looks to win back the trophy he last held in his hands back in 2018.