Even this early in the season – the Hoops have only played four league games – it looks good for Brendan Rodgers’s side in their quest for title number six and they now prepare for next Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League opener against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
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Moussa Dembele bagged a hat-trick to lead Celtic to a crushing 5-1 win over arch-rivals Rangers yesterday in Scotland’s first top-flight Old Firm derby since 2012.
For Dembele, however, there will be no easing off after his triumph, as Celtic travel to Barcelona to embark on their Champions League group stage campaign.
The 19-year-old didn’t give anything away defensively and bombed forward as the creator down the left-hand side for Celtic, giving them width.
Dembele, a summer signing from Fulham, says he is ready to start in Spain if called upon, and will take heart from netting his first senior hat trick this weekend.
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, after his first Old Firm match, admitted the occasion was “everything I expected and more” and praised Dembele, who has had to play second fiddle to Griffiths in recent weeks.
“If I have to start then I will be ready like every game”.
“When the manager needs me I am here”.
“It was the ideal day, to beat Rangers at home, to get the points and to get my first hat-trick”.
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Scott Sinclair fired home Celtic’s third of the game in off the post after being set up by Dembele. “I thought there was a possibility to get him, I still felt it was probably a long shot purely because of his age, (he is) a sought-after striker with top teams in the Premier League wanting him”.
