LIAM Scales has stressed that Celtic remain hungry for more silverware after helping the Parkhead club to clinch their third consecutive Scottish title and have now set their sights on lifting the Scottish Cup and completing a double.
Scales celebrated at Rugby Park on Wednesday night after the Parkhead club had beaten Kilmarnock 5-0 to move six points clear of Rangers at the top of the cinch Premiership table with a game remaining.
The Republic of Ireland internationalist had two winners’ medals to his name – from the 2021/22 League Cup and Premiership – going into the midweek match down in Ayrshire.
But Celtic’s latest success meant far more to the 25-year-old centre half because he has been a regular starter in Brendan Rodgers’ first team during the 2023/24 campaign.
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It was, he admitted, the best moment of his career to date.
The defender, though, is well aware of the expectations of supporters and appreciates that he and his team mates must focus fully on their remaining two matches against St Mirren at Parkhead tomorrow and then Rangers at Hampden seven days later.
“I never really thought too far ahead of myself back then. I just wanted to play games wherever that would be. And this is probably - well, definitely - the best outcome that could have happened and I am delighted.
“Winning things was bittersweet before. You were celebrating because the lads are your friends and your team mates but you feel like you haven’t played your part as much as other people and it’s not as good.
“But I know I can really enjoy this now. I feel an important part of it and it is much easier to feel and celebrate the emotions of winning it this way. Probably this is the highlight of my career. It’s got to be this. Winning it in that style.”
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Scales added: “But we want to win on Saturday at home and make it a good occasion for our home fans. Then it’s on to the cup final. We obviously want to complete the double. We will celebrate the season as a whole, but I don’t think we will be fully satisfied unless we go and win that cup final.
“We definitely won’t switch off. I think you have probably seen over the last few years the mentality of the lads, so I don’t think it is possible for that to happen.
“We know at this club that it is not enough, you need to win every trophy that is available. That is the expectation and that is the mentality we have. That is the way it is and I have learnt that this season playing.
“I obviously saw it in the previous years, but being part of it now you feel it a bit more. It is a given, it is just the way we all think, it is the mentality that we have.”
Scales has been given an extended run in the Celtic first team by Rodgers this season and he admitted he was particularly pleased for his manager, who has been targeted by pundits and fans alike this season, when the Parkhead club finally got over the line in the Premiership on Wednesday night.
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“It has not been a smooth ride for anyone, him included,” he said. “We have had times when we have not performed well and he took a bit of criticism for that, like we all did.
“It is great for him. We are delighted for him. He has been here and done it before. We have always backed him. We always felt like he was the man to do it for us.”
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