Brendan Rodgers is looking forward to this Saturday's Scottish Cup Final 2024 between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden Park.
Following his side's thrilling championship-clinching 5-0 win over Kilmarnock last week, that was then followed by Saturday's 3-2 title part at Celtic Park, the manager stressed that he and his players would enjoy the celebrations before promptly turning their attention to this Saturday's cup final showdown.
Speaking to Celtic TV in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's victory, however, the Irishman underlined the fact that while they wanted to celebrate with the Paradise faithful having already been crowned champions days before, he wanted his players to treat the game like any other day at work.
"It's everything I expected it to be and more," said Rodgers. "This time around I'm going to enjoy every single second of it. The next thing is important, but I can press pause on days like today.
"It's such a special club, and I really want to make sure I enjoy all of these special moments. We haven't been able to do that all season. The players, their application, their professionalism, everything has been superb.
"Today's a day to celebrate. But I also said: this is work. Walking up the Celtic Way before the game was amazing. Celebrating with the fans after winning, amazing. But it's a workday as well.
"We wanted to win, and the players did that and I'm so proud of them. That preparation [for Saturday] starts [immediately], but we're in a great place moving into the weekend."
READ MORE: Why my faith in Rodgers NEVER wavered
Saturday's Scottish Cup final marks the fifth and final time Celtic and Rangers will lock horns this season, and is also the first time the sides have met at this stage in the competition since 2002.
That afternoon Alex McLeish's Rangers overcame Martin O'Neill's men 3-2, an outcome that Brendan Rodgers and his players will strive not to replicate in a few days' time.
The last time the sides met in the Scottish Cup all told, on the other hand, was last year, when a lone Jota goal ensured Ange Postecoglou's side overcame Michael Beale's Rangers in the semi-final of the 2022/23 tournament.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here