Greg Taylor wants Celtic to finish the season strongly - and that can begin by securing a place in the Scottish Cup final with victory over Aberdeen.
The Hoops face Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday having lost just one of their last 18 matches, and are targeting a league and cup double.
Taylor, 26, has been instrumental for Celtic over the past few weeks and is desperate to see his side end the 2023/24 campaign on a high by overcoming the Dons and setting up a final meeting with either Heart of Midlothian or Rangers.
"It's the business end of the season," he said. "We always want to finish strongly, that's been a big part of the success we've had in previous seasons.
"But I understand this is a new season, and there are X amount of games left to do that."
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Rangers won the Viaplay Cup in December after Celtic were knocked out at the last-16 stage by Kilmarnock.
Taylor denied the suggestion that missing out of silverware earlier in the season will give Celtic an extra incentive to go on and claim both the Scottish Cup and Premiership title over the next month.
But the defender did acknowledge the level of expectation there is to bring more trophies into the Parkhead building.
"I wouldn't say it's added," he stated. "But it's important for us. It's probably vital that we win silverware at this club.
"This season, every competition we enter, we try and win, and the Scottish Cup is no different."
Celtic lead their Glasgow rivals in the league standings, with just five post-split fixtures remaining.
Rangers have slipped up recently, losing to Ross County then drawing with Dundee in the space of a few days, and have given Brendan Rodgers’ team the advantage.
However, Taylor believes they can't think too much about that until Saturday's trip to Hampden is out the way.
"We want to be, of course, on top," he explained. "But we also know there's five league games left.
"When the league comes back around we will be focused on that. For now and this week, the preparation has been fully on Aberdeen and the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
"I don't think it's something that's really discussed (Rangers' form), most focus is on ourselves.
"Of course you understand what's going about, you watch Sky Sports News, you watch whatever it is and you understand every teams results in our league. But our predominate focus is on ourselves."
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Asked what he expects from Aberdeen, who have struggled domestically this season yet beat recent Europa League winners, Eintracht Frankfurt, only a few months ago.
The Hoops left-back continued: "I think they will be a difficult opponent. They have showed that in all the games we've had this year.
"Obviously, their league form hasn't been what they had wanted, there's no secrets about that, but I think Peter Leven has got them playing some good stuff.
"I worked with Peter at Kilmarnock and I know he's a real top coach. So, I'm sure it will be a really difficult game."
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