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This Celtic side again find themselves on the brink of making club history this weekend with the Scottish Cup final against Hearts giving Neil Lennon’s team the opportunity to win a third successive treble of trophies.
Since Brendan Rodgers walked through the doors in 2016 the Hoops have stormed every competition available to them on their own shores and a ‘treble treble’ would truly be a momentous occasion for all supporters.
Craig Levein’s team won’t simply be handing the trophy over though and to pick up the win Lennon must get his team selection and tactics spot on, both of which have been called into question in recent weeks.
The chalkboard
Most of the positions at Celtic, when everyone is fit, pick themselves these days.
There are stand-outs available across the team but it’s in the middle of the park where competition is fiercest and the Hoops manager must get the balance and blend of his midfield right.
A trio of Olivier Ntcham, Callum McGregor and Scott Brown would give Celtic the stability needed in an unpredictable final at Hampden, while also providing a bit of the creativity and attacking ambition required to support two wingers and a central striker.
Ntcham came into the team against Hearts on Sunday and while of course neither side had a strong starting eleven out, the Frenchman demonstrated that one his day he is almost peerless in Scottish football, with his physicality, vision and skill making him one of Celtic’s best players on the day.
Celtic supporters will rush to tell you that kind of form is incredible inconsistent but, when considering the other options available to Lennon, the 23-year-old is the perfect man to play alongside Brown and McGregor, both of whom are certain to play.
Why not Rogic?
The Australian isn’t having the best 2019 so far having missed a massive chunk of the season due to international duty at the Asian Cup and a subsequent injury.
Rogic has made himself almost synonymous with Hampden performances at Celtic over the last few years and obviously knows how to find his way to goal in national finals. To stick him on the substitute’s bench would be seen as something of a selection risk by many fans.
Nonetheless, Lennon must do exactly that because when Rogic let’s a game pass him by then Celtic get absolutely nothing from the player. The word passenger would be harsh, but the Australian has had the tendency to go missing in games over last couple of months.
That’s not to say he couldn’t still play a part in a win – coming off the bench, the 26-year-old would be an immense weapon to unleash on Hearts in the second half if Celtic need him.
He’s also a far better impact option than Ntcham, who can start the game and help give the Hoops a foothold towards victory.
Levein is going to set his side out to try and disrupt Celtic’s slick play with aggressive physicality and if Lennon goes with Rogic then they could find themselves having one luxury player too many on the pitch.