Celtic is aware of its potential semi-final opponents, and there’s one team I’d rather steer clear of.

Tonight, the picture is clearer as we see how the League Cup semifinal lineup is taking shape. It will feature Aberdeen, Motherwell, and the club from Ibrox in the last four. If we get past Falkirk tomorrow—which we certainly should—we’ll face one of these teams in the semis.

Hampden feels like our second home, and under Rodgers, we’ve never lost there. We are undoubtedly the best team in Scotland right now, so we have nothing to fear from any potential draw. That said, it would be enjoyable to take on either Motherwell or the club from Ibrox.

Aberdeen, however, presents the toughest challenge of the three. They’re unpredictable at the moment, so let’s save them for cup final day—that’s when we’ll have our chance to put them in their place.

The so-called “healthy crowd” received praise, despite numerous empty seats visible throughout the stadium. So much for the grand homecoming that was supposed to be a sell-out. Fans aren’t easily swayed by a couple of victories, even if some in the media are.

Sometimes, a scoreline can exaggerate the true nature of a game, and for much of today’s match, Dundee actually performed quite well. Their manager had them playing aggressively, and they missed several good opportunities. He’ll be cursing the player who gave away a needless penalty, especially after getting away with a similar incident in the first half. There’s simply no excuse for that.

Some may convince themselves that it was a brilliant performance from the club from Ibrox, but it wasn’t. They were lackluster, and certain players appeared distinctly average—Cerny, in particular, was dreadful. He seems to be riding on the coattails of a long-ago goal against Celtic and can’t rely on that forever. He was easily bullied off the ball by Dundee’s players, making it hard to believe we’ll see him back in form anytime soon. However, given their squad depth, they can’t afford to bench anyone for too long.

The praise for Dessers was particularly amusing. He’s a penalty box player, and as long as he’s at that club, he’ll get chances and score goals. But let’s be honest: it doesn’t take brilliance to find the net in the SPFL. The media’s disdain for their audience is reflected in their sudden praise for a player they spent months criticizing. The manager’s little pat on the back for Dessers when he came off was laughable, as was the commentary team’s attempt to portray a narrative of harmony and happiness. We all know they spent the summer trying to offload him.

If I had to guess what the manager said to Dessers as he came off, it was probably something like, “Thank goodness nobody wanted to buy you a few months ago.”

The scoreline may have seemed convincing, but the performance was far from it. On another day, if Dundee had taken their chances, the result could have been quite different. The penalty calmed nerves and provided a cushion, but there was nothing in that match to give us nightmares. There’s no sign of a resurgence at Ibrox.

Every match they play could be the one that sends them into a downward spiral. However, with the second-largest wage bill in the league, they’re unlikely to face disaster—at least not yet. But the disaster is coming, and it won’t necessarily happen against us, even though we’re the team they want to avoid in the draw.

As the saying goes, you can run, but you can’t hide. Eventually, the club from Ibrox will face their reckoning. As long as we keep winning, no media narrative, no inflated egos, and certainly none of Ibrox’s false confidence will make the slightest difference. We remain the team everyone must beat to secure silverware.

The picture is now complete. We just need to focus on our match tomorrow and see what the draw holds. I’d be happy to take on any team left in the competition, but there’s one matchup I’d prefer. Between Motherwell and the club from Ibrox, it’s tough to choose, but I’m confident we can beat either.

The wild card is Aberdeen. Watching them against the club from Ibrox will be intriguing. They’ve maintained a 100% record under their new manager, though that streak will eventually end. Their fans are enjoying the moment, and so should we. It’s about time there was a serious challenge from outside Glasgow, and Aberdeen seems poised to provide it.

Only time will tell. For now, I’m excited for tomorrow’s game and eager to secure our place in the final four. The draw and everything that follows will take care of itself.

Whoever we face, we know our task, and we’ll be doing it at a venue where Rodgers’ record is unmatched. Bring it on!

Source: https://thecelticblog.com/2024/09/articles-and-features/celtic-knows-who-its-possible-semi-final-opponents-are-and-theres-one-id-prefer-to-avoid/