Liam Scales lifts lid on Celtic breakthrough season amid dramatic Hampden triumph

Celtic defender Liam Scales has established himself as a first-team regular this campaign under Brendan Rodgers.

Despite looking set to depart for Aberdeen permanently last summer, Scales stuck around at Parkhead and has now gone on to rack up 39 appearances this campaign, registering one goal and three assists [Transfermarkt].

Now, events have turned full circle for the 25-year-old, who featured for 120 minutes as Celtic narrowly edged his former club on penalties yesterday to reach the Scottish Cup final after drawing 3-3 in normal time.

The Republic of Ireland international has a Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup medal from his time on the books in Glasgow.

He is now one Game away from completing a domestic sweep, which would be quite an achievement given he was playing for League of Ireland outfit University College Dublin a mere five years ago.

Celtic and Scales are believed to be in negotiations over a potential contract extension, with his current terms are set to expire in the summer of 2025.

Nevertheless, it isn’t thought that both parties are close to an agreement, which may pose questions about his long-term future at the club if the situation drags on over the coming months.

Either way, finishing off this campaign with a domestic double will be the primary concern for all involved before alternative matters come to the fore.

Liam Scales on Celtic emergence and hopes for rest of campaign

Navigating past Aberdeen will have provided mixed emotions for Scales, who greatly respects his old side amid the visibility he gained in an impressive loan spell at Pittodrie last term.

In truth, most people, including himself, wouldn’t have envisaged his rise to prominence at Parkhead this season; regardless, the Irishman is intent on capping his breakthrough campaign with two pieces of silverware under Brendan Rodgers.

When asked about his emergence at Celtic and Aberdeen links last summer, he explained [Cited via The Celtic Way]: “I really enjoyed my time at Aberdeen, and it is a great club. To break into the team here is brilliant.

“I am delighted with how the season has gone. We just need to finish the season strong in our last five league games leading into the cup final.”

He then added on the platform his side has built to finish strongly this campaign: “That’s it. We are coming in strong to the last part of the season, and that’s the way we like it and that’s the way we want it to be.

“With five Games left in the league, we want to try and put that to bed and then deal with the cup. It won’t be that simple, but that’s the plan.”

Celtic have set themselves up nicely for season run-in

Admittedly, there have been more comfortable victories to watch in Celtic’s history than yesterday’s chaotic triumph over Aberdeen; nevertheless, winning is all that matters in the Scottish Cup, no matter how you pull it off.

On a day that could’ve veered in a different direction, the Bhoys deserve credit for showing composure when it mattered from the spot, with six out of seven penalties converted in the shootout, the outlier being Joe Hart’s strike off the woodwork.

As Scales alluded to, Celtic have clear designs on finishing the season with a flurry, which he hopes can yield more medals to add to his collection.

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