Former Celtic and Rangers forward Kenny Miller has played down the impact that next month’s Betfred Cup final will have on the Premiership title race.
Celtic sit proudly at the top of the table after 12 league matches, but only on goal difference despite a terrific start to the season. The Hoops are seen as big favourites to clinch a ninth title in-a-row but some have pointed to December’s Hampden final as a big indicator of who will come out on top over 38 matches.
But vilified former Celt Miller can’t see it having a big say on proceedings.
“I don’t see the outcome of the final having a bearing on the league title,” he told the Scottish Sun.
“Once it’s gone then you need to refocus, and there’s even Europa League games after it, so it’s a big week and it will immediately shift to the next match.
“I know from being involved in that environment if you lose then you want to bounce back straight away.
“Whatever manager loses will be asking for that — and what better way than on a European night.”
Miller comments on Betfred Cup don’t tie in with Rodgers
It’s hard to know exactly what impact winning the first trophy has on the rest of the season. One thing’s for sure – it hasn’t exactly halted Celtic in their tracks in the past three years. Winning the Betfred Cup has arguably given us the confidence and drive to succeed in the other two domestic trophies.
Another widely disliked former Celtic figure – Brendan Rodgers – said as much in a Scottish Sun interview from October 2017.
“This is always the most important,” he said of the Betfred Cup. “I think it is a great trophy to win.
“It was a very important one for us last year, something tangible to show for our growth and work.
“It’s great for the clubs to have a trophy so early in the season. When it is there, you obviously want to grab it.”
Say what you want about Rodgers and how he left the club, but his record up here was excellent. If there’s one man you would want to listen to about winning Scottish trophies then it would be him.
Losing the Betfred Cup final won’t see us surrender the league that night. But winning it could have an invaluable effect on the team – especially some of the new stars signed in the summer.
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