CALL it a moment of clarity or simply the sound of a rather large penny dropping with a thump on the ground. Whichever way, Scott Brown wants to tell it now, it was a day which changed his life and a career that wasn’t quite on the ropes but one which had taken way too many blows to the body.
If one positive emerged for Celtic after their painful Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers in April, other than Ronny Deila being ushered out of the door, then it was that the captain made up his mind after a chastening display, that things had to change.
Brown, forcing himself to think back to the afternoon which led him to begin considering international retirement, said: “That is when I started thinking about Scotland and that’s when I started thinking about not training as much, trying to take time off and to look after my body off the park and on the park as well.
Read more: Rodgers shrugs off notion of Hampden hoodoo as Celtic boss eyes first piece of silverware
“I needed the five-six weeks just to freeze out and come back fresh. International breaks have definitely helped me as well, I am getting three, four, five days off to let my body totally recover and heal any aches and pains. Then you are coming back in and it is full throttle again, Saturday, Wednesday for another month. We have the break in November, then there is a January break as well so it seems to be working quite well.
“You can only push yourself for so long. It was becoming like a 12-month season for me because you were away with Scotland and then coming back into Celtic, playing all the time. It wasn’t a drag but it was a drag on my body.”
Read more: Rodgers shrugs off notion of Hampden hoodoo as Celtic boss eyes first piece of silverware
Brown was a shadow of himself that afternoon, about his worst in a Celtic jersey, but in his defence the man should have been nowhere near the pitch.
He has learned (some) lessons in that he now knows to listen to his body more, although one thing which will never change is that unless his leg is in plaster then he wants to be involved in the action.
Brown said: “I wasn’t fully fit, that’s for sure. But it was a Rangers-Celtic game and I would have played in that if I was two per cent fit. I think every other punter and every other Celtic player would have done the same to lead Celtic out in a semi-final.
“I would give anything to play. I enjoy playing that is why I am still playing and it is why I am still at Celtic. I enjoy Celtic and I enjoy playing in these games and I am back playing with a smile on my face. We are in the Champions League, we are in the semi-final of the League Cup and doing really well in the league. If I am not happy now, when am I going to be happy?
“I want to train as much as I can. I know I am not going to be doing this forever and I know I am going to retire in the next five, six, seven, eight years so I might as well start to enjoy it and really focus as hard as I can and play as well as I possibly can.”
Read more: Rodgers shrugs off notion of Hampden hoodoo as Celtic boss eyes first piece of silverware
Brown’s first medal came in the 2007 League Cup final and after some prodding and reminders – footballers’ memories are rarely great – he recalled with fondness a great day when his Hibernian side beat Kilmarnock 5-1.
“I lifted the trophy with Rob Jones, Steven Fletcher did really well and Lewis Stevenson got man of the match. It was my first trophy and you are always going to remember that,” he said.
“We went back to Easter Road at night, did the open-top bus parade and met the fans. We went to the stadium too and were all announced one by one. After that, it was a blur. That was a great occasion. To be so young and win a trophy with Hibs, their first since 1991, was a great honour.
“We were a young team who were developing and there was talk about us going on to big teams. After that season, we lost everyone but it was a great time and really enjoyable.”
Brown is glad this afternoon’s Betfred Cup semi-final against Rangers is being played when there is a chance there might be some grass on Hampden’s notoriously dreadful pitch.
“I’m surprised they aren’t trying to play the final in December and add to the nine games we have!” he joked. “No, it’s probably better to play these games now and it’s better for the pitch, definitely.
“If the game is on telly, you want the surface to be perfect. October and November are better times, when the pitch hasn’t been battered and bruised all winter.
“It will help with viewers. You don’t want to play it on a mudbath. You want a good park. It’s probably better for everyone that the compet- ition has changed. We will see a full Hampden and it will be miles better in presentation. Hopefully it’s a good match too.”
That might not happen. What will happen is that Celtic’s captain is going to be like his old self again, which is always fun to watch.
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