The Celtic pain that Lewis Ferguson admits inspired Bologna captain’s Coppa Italia win vs AC Milan

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Celtic have caused pain to many players in Scotland over the last two decades.

The club’s domestic dominance has meant that Celtic are officially Scotland’s most successful club which, in turn, means that their opponents have suffered a lot over the last 25 years.

Cup final wins and league titles have been Celtic’s forte but it seems that one particular day at Hampden helped create history over in Italy.

Lewis Ferguson helped captain Bologna to their first-ever Coppa Italia win over AC Milan since 1974 this week and it appears that pain caused by Celtic inspired him to victory.

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Celtic’s 2018 League Cup final win vs Aberdeen inspired Ferguson’s Coppa Italia win

Lewis Ferguson has been setting the heather on fire ever since his big move the Serie A in 2022.

However, the Bologna captain has admitted that the League Cup final defeat to Celtic in 2018 was used as motivation to help him lift his first trophy of his short career.

Ferguson told The Daily Mail, “It means a lot. I played in one final before in Scotland and I lost.

“I remember the feeling after that game and this morning I rewatched that game to feel how I felt all those years ago.

“I used this for motivation for tonight. It means so much.”

Ryan Christie scored the only goal of the game as Celtic went on to win the Treble Treble that season.

Did Celtic ever try to sing Lewis Ferguson?

In a word, no. When the former Aberdeen man became available in the summer of 2022, there were no reports to indicate that Celtic held interest in Ferguson.

His uncle, Barry Ferguson, once admitted he couldn’t believe Celtic didn’t try to sign his nephew but at that time, the Hoops had a strong midfield and the Bologna man may well have ended up as a bench warmer.

Celtic hero Peter Grant was of the same view and said the Parkhead club made a mistake by not trying to sign Ferguson.

It matters not now as Celtic continue to dominate Scottish football but it’s good to see that the pain the Hoops have caused have helped to create a bit of history in Italian football.