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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Josh McCafferty

Celtic's Schlupp makes surprising Hibs admission ahead of Scottish Cup tie

Jeffrey Schlupp says Celtic's loss to Hibernian a fortnight ago is still sore as the sides prepare to meet in the Scottish Cup this weekend.

Off the back of a painstaking elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich, Brendan Rodgers' men travelled to Easter Road amid a hectic fixture schedule.

Hibs went in at the break 2-0 up and despite a second-half strike from Daizen Maeda, the Leith side emerged victorious.

Schlupp, who scored his first Celtic goal in a 5-2 win over St Mirren last Saturday, has admitted the defeat to Hibs still stings: "Cup games are always great," he said (Celtic TV).

"Obviously, we're going to be looking to win the game [this weekend].


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"They've [Hibs] been on a great run. They beat us a couple of weeks ago, which is still sore. It's something that we're going to want to put right straight away.

"For the fans, it's going to be a big one, and for us too. We want to get through to the semi-final, and that's going to be the mission."

Hibs will bring a sizeable 7,000 fans through to Glasgow's east end for the hotly anticipated cup clash.

David Gray's men are unbeaten in 15 games and are riding the crest of a wave following a 2-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian in the Edinburgh derby last weekend.

Celtic boss Rodgers expects an arduous challenge: "I think it's a really difficult game, but I also think it's a really difficult game for them," he said.

"I think it's one where David's done great, I was so pleased for him, and I think I mentioned this before leading into our last game. I think it just shows you if you stay with your manager, because I know it was a really, really difficult start for him, but I think the players clearly were committed to David and his staff and his work.

"The people up the stairs clearly were, because sometimes it takes you a little bit of time to figure out your best systems, your best style, whatever it is you want to play.

"There's no doubt they've changed a little bit of their style and how they want to work, but it still is very effective.

"So I'm really delighted for him as a young manager coming in at a club he loves, a club where he's an iconic figure, to then show that he could get over that little sticky start.

"That's also a great credit to the club because you have to give managers time to do that. The sun isn't shining every day as a manager, you have difficult days and you have difficult games, but he clearly has a real passion for the club, has a professionalism and that has seen him through, and like you say, in terms of results, doing very, very well."

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