Celtic star Liam Scales targets Scottish Cup final glory vs Rangers at Hampden after Darvel horror show with Aberdeen

THERE will be 50,000 at Hampden in the sun. For Liam Scales a far cry from a truly dark night in Darvel. Kenny RamsayScales has had a season to remember and wants to end it with a Cup double[/caption] SNSIt comes after a nightmare match in the competition on loan at the Dons last season[/caption] SNSThe Old Firm go head-to-head at the national stadium next week[/caption] But the Hoops stopper insists his experience of Scottish Cup misery has prepared him for trophy glory. The Irishman was on loan at Aberdeen when they crashed out of the tourney to the Ayrshire part-timers, in one of the most shocking results Scottish football has ever seen. That humbling defeat, though, was a reminder for Scales, 25, how everything in the game has to be earned as he now targets a domestic Double against Rangers in the Cup final. He said: “Just 18 months ago I was at Aberdeen and we got knocked out of the Cup by Darvel, and then we had back-to-back heavy league defeats in the space of a week. “So to go from being that low to this high is massive. I suppose that experience up there has also helped me get to where I am now. “I now have the Scottish Cup final with Celtic, and winning that would be as far away from that night in Darvel as you can get! “That’s the plan and we’re fully focused on that now. “Our celebrations at the weekend weren’t as big as they were the other night. “We had a nice little weekend, and now we’re totally focused as everyone here wants to win the Double and we’re striving to achieve that.” Having come through tough times at Aberdeen, Scales was able to put things into perspective earlier this season when Celtic were struggling. He added: “There have been times this season when the performances haven’t been as good as they should have been. “But I always thought that, ‘Well, I was at that point 18 months ago with Aberdeen and I was able to get back to this stage.’ “So it was just a low point and you have to bounce back. And I have used that to get through tough times this season as well.” Scales also had his friends and family close by him. Some of them were at Celtic Park on Saturday to see him lift the Premiership trophy. Although his mum and dad missed the celebrations as they were abroad at a wedding. The big defender was just delighted to feel part of the title party. Scales said: “I was here at Celtic two years ago and that was a different feeling as I wasn’t as much a part of it as I’ve been this year. “It’s great to finish off the season in front of our fans, to get the reception that we got, and then to win the game at the end as well. “That was what we wanted to do and I enjoyed it so much. I’m just letting it sink in now. “I had my girlfriend at the game and my brother was over with a few friends. “They all enjoyed it and had a great day, as I did. It’s nice to share this moment with them. “My family have always followed and supported me. “My parents aren’t here today as they are away in Europe at a wedding, but they would have loved to have been here. Kenny RamsayScales is out for more success[/caption] “It would have been nice but they are over in Montenegro, although they were still watching. “They were at the Rangers game a few weeks ago so that was a good one for them to have been at. “And they will be at the final next weekend too. “The amount of help and everything that I’ve had from them — over the years they have really supported me. “We’ve been through the good times but also the tough times which has been brilliant. “I have to also give a shout out to Pat Devlin. He’s been my advisor since I was about 17 or 18. “He got me here and helped me through so many times, so I have to also give him a big thank you.” Scales deserves all the praise going. He was given a chance at the start of the season to be part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans and reached out and grabbed it with both hands. The defender has recently signed a new four-year deal. It’s up to him now to stay in the team next season when more new players are brought in, but he’s earned the chance with his performances. Scales was on the bench for the final day clash with St Mirren and only came on late in the game when Stephen Welsh went off injured. He didn’t have a great game with Saints striker Toyosi Olusanya giving him a torrid time. The Buddies deserved something out of the game with Mark O’Hara scoring twice. But Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi cancelled out his strikes before Luis Palma’s late winner. But no result was ever going to dampen the title party which even saw Santa deliver the Premiership trophy. Scales admits he didn’t even know why that was happening. It had to be explained to him that it was because fans cruelly booed Father Christmas back in December. Scales added: “I didn’t know what that was about — that was a bit

May 19, 2024 - 18:00
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Celtic star Liam Scales targets Scottish Cup final glory vs Rangers at Hampden after Darvel horror show with Aberdeen

THERE will be 50,000 at Hampden in the sun.

For Liam Scales a far cry from a truly dark night in Darvel.

Kenny Ramsay
Scales has had a season to remember and wants to end it with a Cup double[/caption]
SNS
It comes after a nightmare match in the competition on loan at the Dons last season[/caption]
SNS
The Old Firm go head-to-head at the national stadium next week[/caption]

But the Hoops stopper insists his experience of Scottish Cup misery has prepared him for trophy glory.

The Irishman was on loan at Aberdeen when they crashed out of the tourney to the Ayrshire part-timers, in one of the most shocking results Scottish football has ever seen.

That humbling defeat, though, was a reminder for Scales, 25, how everything in the game has to be earned as he now targets a domestic Double against Rangers in the Cup final.

He said: “Just 18 months ago I was at Aberdeen and we got knocked out of the Cup by Darvel, and then we had back-to-back heavy league defeats in the space of a week.

“So to go from being that low to this high is massive. I suppose that experience up there has also helped me get to where I am now.

“I now have the Scottish Cup final with Celtic, and winning that would be as far away from that night in Darvel as you can get!

“That’s the plan and we’re fully focused on that now.

“Our celebrations at the weekend weren’t as big as they were the other night.

“We had a nice little weekend, and now we’re totally focused as everyone here wants to win the Double and we’re striving to achieve that.”

Having come through tough times at Aberdeen, Scales was able to put things into perspective earlier this season when Celtic were struggling.

He added: “There have been times this season when the performances haven’t been as good as they should have been.

“But I always thought that, ‘Well, I was at that point 18 months ago with Aberdeen and I was able to get back to this stage.’

“So it was just a low point and you have to bounce back. And I have used that to get through tough times this season as well.” Scales also had his friends and family close by him.

Some of them were at Celtic Park on Saturday to see him lift the Premiership trophy. Although his mum and dad missed the celebrations as they were abroad at a wedding.

The big defender was just delighted to feel part of the title party.

Scales said: “I was here at Celtic two years ago and that was a different feeling as I wasn’t as much a part of it as I’ve been this year.

“It’s great to finish off the season in front of our fans, to get the reception that we got, and then to win the game at the end as well.

“That was what we wanted to do and I enjoyed it so much. I’m just letting it sink in now.

“I had my girlfriend at the game and my brother was over with a few friends.

“They all enjoyed it and had a great day, as I did. It’s nice to share this moment with them.

“My family have always followed and supported me.

“My parents aren’t here today as they are away in Europe at a wedding, but they would have loved to have been here.

Kenny Ramsay
Scales is out for more success[/caption]

“It would have been nice but they are over in Montenegro, although they were still watching.

“They were at the Rangers game a few weeks ago so that was a good one for them to have been at.

“And they will be at the final next weekend too.

“The amount of help and everything that I’ve had from them — over the years they have really supported me.

“We’ve been through the good times but also the tough times which has been brilliant.

“I have to also give a shout out to Pat Devlin. He’s been my advisor since I was about 17 or 18.

“He got me here and helped me through so many times, so I have to also give him a big thank you.”

Scales deserves all the praise going. He was given a chance at the start of the season to be part of Brendan Rodgers’ plans and reached out and grabbed it with both hands.

The defender has recently signed a new four-year deal.

It’s up to him now to stay in the team next season when more new players are brought in, but he’s earned the chance with his performances.

Scales was on the bench for the final day clash with St Mirren and only came on late in the game when Stephen Welsh went off injured.

He didn’t have a great game with Saints striker Toyosi Olusanya giving him a torrid time.

The Buddies deserved something out of the game with Mark O’Hara scoring twice.

But Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi cancelled out his strikes before Luis Palma’s late winner.

But no result was ever going to dampen the title party which even saw Santa deliver the Premiership trophy.

Scales admits he didn’t even know why that was happening.

It had to be explained to him that it was because fans cruelly booed Father Christmas back in December.

Scales added: “I didn’t know what that was about — that was a bit crazy!

“I didn’t know the story about what had happened before so it makes sense now.

“I’m glad Santa got a good reception this time around. He deserved that.

“Scottish football is a bit mad at times, but it’s brilliant at the same time and I love being a part of it.”

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