Incredibly, McGregor has never lost a cup final, but “it was mighty close today,” he said. The captain was as relieved as he was honest.
“The performance wasn’t great, so we had to grind it out. We had to hold our nerve. Even when you’re not perfect, you can still win. Dig in. Find something extra.”
Pyro, predictably, reappeared and kick-off was delayed, two more fingers being raised by the ultras to their own clubs and to the footballing authorities who practically begged them to behave. More charges pending from the SPFL? Let’s see.
When the action began, it was toe-to-toe. Rangers were physical and uncompromising.
Amid the maelstrom, Taylor lost his head, played a square ball that was a bad idea and also poorly executed in any event and that was the catalyst for the opener.
The omens were good for Rangers. Only four teams who have scored first in the last 49 League Cup finals have failed to win the trophy. But stats don’t take into account Celtic’s steepling self belief.
They were in trouble – no space, no control, not many chances – but they found their way out of it. Celtic’s mental strength is a thing of wonder. They were nowhere near their best and yet they have another title to their name.
The shoot-out came and with it came memories of Rangers’ in the Europa League denouement in Seville against Eintracht Frankfurt. Aaron Ramsey, then. Yilmaz now.
Schmeichel did his thing. There was gamesmanship in the way he tried to put off some Rangers penalty takers. There were some mocking words in reply from Ianis Hagi after he buried his kick past the Dane.
Ultimately, this odyssey came down to Yilmaz versus Schmeichel and Maeda versus Butland. Celtic won, by a whisker or by a mile, it doesn’t really matter.
A different kind of victory from before, but the same feelgood in one dressing room and presumably the same silence and despair in the other. Sporting drama at its best .
