Motherwell vs Celtic. Viaplay Cup Final.
Hampden ParkAttendance49,483.
Sunday 26 November 2017 15:19, UK
Brendan Rodgers says his Celtic side are fully prepared for a physical game when they face Motherwell in the Betfred Cup final on Sunday.
Motherwell's style was scrutinised following their semi-final win over Rangers, as Ryan Bowman broke Fabio Cardoso's nose when challenging for a header.
In the aftermath of Motherwell's semi-final win Rodgers criticised referee Steven McLean, saying he threatened "lives and careers" with his performance at Hampden.
The Celtic manager is more than aware of what his team will face at Hampden Park at the weekend but says the players he puts out will be able to cope.
"We are an aggressive team. You want that level of game, that level of commitment," he said.
"You always want the officials, the referee and the fourth officials to respect the laws of the game and make sure no player is in danger within the game. But you want it competitive and I'm sure that's how it will be.
"We've shown many times here playing in the league and the various cups, we've played against different styles - aggressive styles, footballing teams, mixed teams - and the players have coped very well with it.
"Whenever you go into any final, you have to be ready mentally for whatever the opponent throws at you. That's something we'll be prepared for."
Centre-back Peter Hartley dismissed claims Motherwell are a dirty team, but said they possess a physical edge as part of their armoury.
"If we take the physicality out of our game then we are not going to be the same team. If we play Celtic at their own game then they will beat us. We have to try and make Celtic play our game.
"In the semi-final (v Rangers) nobody gave us a chance. It was only little old Motherwell. We are always the underdogs. But we won and we are going there to win again. We are not going there just to make up the numbers.
"We are going to Hampden to lift the trophy. We have full belief in our manager to come up with a plan.
"We get a lot of criticism about being physical, but we are a good team. We are a team that plays football in the right areas. We do the basics well and when we get in the final third we create chances."
Celtic pair Mikael Lustig and Nir Bitton are both injury doubts for the Betfred Cup final.
Right-back Lustig did not train on Friday after going off early in Celtic's 7-1 Champions League defeat by Paris St Germain on Wednesday.
And his replacement in Celtic's three-man central defence, Bitton, is also struggling to make Sunday's Hampden clash with Motherwell.
When asked about Lustig, Celtic boss Rodgers said: "It was more a dead leg. He had a bit of bleeding in the Ross County game and he felt it in the next game.
"Him and Nir Bitton had a slight knock as well so we will assess them over the next 48 hours and we'll give them the opportunity to be fit and ready."
Another right-back, Anthony Ralston, is still sidelined by a knee injury.
