Celtic

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The headline Celtic news is that captain Callum McGregor starts after two substitute appearances since his return from injury. Liam Scales is also fit to return to central defence.

The midfielder caught up with BBC Scotland pre-match.

"Obviously I've missed the last few weeks, but you get to a cup semi-final, you see the pitch, you see the weather, it's the perfect day for football, so I'm delighted to be back in," he said.

"It's great to get on the pitch today, get some minutes in and hopefully keep getting stronger.

"This club is built on big games and we've got another one today. It's important we do our job and get ourselves into the final.

"We know Aberdeen have a threat on counter attacks. They're a physical team, so we have to bring our A-game, we have to be good with the ball, good in transition and then try do the right things to get a good result."

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Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Barron, Polvara, McGrath, Clarkson, Duk, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, Jensen, Phillips, Sokler, Morris, Duncan, Milne, Hoilett, Rubezic.

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, O'Riley, McGregor, Hatate, Kuhn, Kyogo, Yang.

Substitutes: Bain, Palma, Idah, Nawrocki, Tomoki, Bernardo, Kelly, Forrest, Ralston.

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Celtic have four representatives in the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland team of the year, voted by their fellow top-flight players.

Brendan Rodgers' first-choice centre-back pair, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales, have both made the team.

The duo have both suffered injuries throughout the campaign, but when together, have been a formidable force and have played their part in Celtic ensuring Celtic have only conceded 26 goals this term.

Captain Callum McGregor - as always - has played his part and has also been voted for by his fellow professionals.

The Scotland international has experienced a frustrating time of late on the sidelines too, but has still amassed nearly 2,500 minutes of top-flight action in the heart of the Celtic midfield.

And rounding off the quartet, last season's Young Player of the Year nominee, Matt O'Riley. With 13 goals and 11 assists he has been magical in the midfield.

No side is better represented in the team.

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Brendan Rodgers says the "trepidation" around playing at Hampden he sensed when he first arrived at Celtic has turned to "expectation".

The Northern Irishman has a flawless record in both the Scottish Cup and at the national stadium.

Celtic had previously faltered in knockout competitions, going three years without a Scottish Cup and claiming just one League Cup between 2010-2016.

"Having won it 41 times, the memories of Celtic in this competition are iconic," Rodgers said.

"For us to take that step with another opportunity to win it, I'm really looking forward to it.

"I felt leading into [my] first semi-final, there was a wee bit of trepidation around playing it at Hampden. In the main, any time I've gone there, I feel the team has really performed.

"The supporters then went and had that expectation of winning, that's what success should look like.

"I've loved all the games there. To win that first League Cup final was so special. The Scottish Cup. I've got so many memories of that as a child."

Rodgers was denied the chance to return to Hampden earlier in the campaign when Kilmarnock became the first side to inflicted a domestic cup defeat on his Celtic side.

The Celtic manager says that extended wait to be in the national stadium's dugout has made him anticipate Saturday's semi-final - live on BBC One Scotland - even more.

"I say it jokingly, but I'm also serious, I have missed it [Hampden] this year, having not had the chance to go," he added.

"I've gone only a couple times to what Scotland play, but to be on the touchline, that's what I want."

Watch some of Callum McGregor's best Scottish Cup moments with Celtic as the captain prepares to lead the team out against Aberdeen in Saturday's semi-final. (Available to UK users only)

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We've got you covered as Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers' perfect Scottish Cup record is put to the test against Peter Leven's Aberdeen on Saturday.

The semi-final will be shown live on BBC One Scotland - with coverage starting at 12:00 BST - as well as the BBC Sport website, app and iPlayer.

There's also commentary on BBC Radio Scotland, plus online live text coverage, with build-up, reaction, analysis and highlights.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been facing the media ahead of his side's Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland.

Here are the key points:

• Hopes to add to the "iconic memories" he has had with Celtic in the Scottish Cup. The trepidation from the fans about playing at Hampden when he first arrived has turned into expectation, he adds.

• Says he has loved "all the games" he's overseen at the national stadium and has "missed" Hampden this season after exiting the League Cup early.

• Not keen to dwell on Rangers' stumbles in the title race this week, instead saying all focus is on reaching the Scottish Cup final.

• Dealing with pressure is "everything" in the "high stakes, high pressure" finale to the season. "Poise" and "experience" are key when at a club like Celtic.

• Says he "respects" Aberdeen despite their troubled season, highlighting their managerial uncertainty. Expecting a "tough game" from Peter Leven's side.

• He hasn't "actively encouraged" players to let their hair down in Glasgow, but says it's a "great city" and the social aspect is "important" to off-set pressure.

• Daizen Maeda remains out and is being assessed on a week-by-week basis. Liam Scales returns in the only injury update.

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Greg Taylor says it's "vital" Celtic pick up silverware this season as they get set for a Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen.

Left-back Taylor has enjoyed success at the Glasgow club in recent years, and is using those experiences to motivate him for more.

"It's vital we win silverware at this club every season," the 26-year-old said.

"Every competition we enter we try and win and the Scottish Cup is no different.

"There's no better feeling than winning trophies at this club. It makes you excited for more.

"The success is what you work all season for, it is everything. This is no different now.

"There's been strong parts of the season, there's been low parts of the season but we're peaking at a good time, we've got a lot of bodies back and hopefully trying to reach our top level of football in these last few games."

Get in the mood for Celtic's Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen by watching highlights of their triumph over Inverness Caledonian Thistle last season that secured a domestic treble in Ange Postecoglou's final act as manager.

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Celtic will be well aware that they must step up following Brendan Rodgers' comments last weekend that this is the time of year his side "come alive".

That's according to former Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan, who told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast that the league leaders will relish the pressure of leading the title race and competing in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

"It is the business end of the season for Celtic," he said. "It's when they know they need to come alive. They know they need to grind out results and just win games.

"For the bulk of it, it's all about playing good and having their style. But now, all they need to do is win games and they know that as well.

"They're used to the pressure, they'll relish the pressure.

"Then the fact that Brendan Rodgers actually comes out publicly and says it as well, it kind of hammers it home.

"Probably really makes them believe that actually, whatever about this season so far, we're in this position and now we know this is when we come alive."

Scott Brown tells BBC Scotland the favourite moment of his Celtic career was Tom Rogic's dramatic injury-time winner in the 2017 Scottish Cup final that completed an unbeaten domestic treble.

Listen to more from former Celtic skipper Brown on the BBC's Scottish football podcast here.

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Lee Congerton says he tried to bring Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby of Aston Villa to Celtic when they were both in PSG's youth system.

The former head of recruitment claims his time in Glasgow was blighted by a lack of funds, adding he left the club due to players he didn't approve of being brought in.

Now at Serie A side Atalanta, Congerton took up the role at Celtic in March 2017, before following Brendan Rodgers down to Leicester City two years later.

“At Celtic we had no money,” he told Telegraph Sport, external. “Peter Lawwell is a nice man, he’s an accountant. Brendan spoke to me and said we needed pace and power, speed.

"We all know PSG has an amazing youth programme with players at the time who were never going to play for PSG.

"Two of the other players we tried to sign during my time were [Moussa] Diaby, who is now at Aston Villa, and [Christopher] Nkunku who is now at Chelsea.

“But there were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them and that is why I left. Peter knows that and so did Brendan. Atalanta is very different."

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Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed a special relationship with the Scottish Cup.

The Northern Irishman boasts a perfect record in the competition, with 15 wins out of 15 across his two spells.

Success in this season's competition would be the third time the manager has won the famous old trophy with Celtic. He also steered the club to the quarter-finals in 2018-19 before leaving for Leicester City, with Celtic going on to retain the trophy under Neil Lennon.

Under Rodgers' watch, Celtic have scored 53 goals in the Scottish Cup while conceding just six.

His two previous semi-finals will be fondly remembered by those of a green and white persuasion, as Old Firm bragging rights were claimed in comfortable victories over Rangers.

In 2017, Callum McGregor and Scott Sinclair were on target in a 2-0 win, before doubling that tally with a year later. McGregor found the net again, with Tom Rogic, Moussa Dembele and Olivier Ntcham also on the scoresheet in a Hampden hammering.

Aberdeen are the team facing the daunting task of ending Rodgers' flawless run in the competition, live on BBC One Scotland on Saturday.

His first taste of this trophy came in heartbreaking fashion for the Dons when Rogic's 92nd-minute winner in May 2017 sparked jubilation for Celtic as they lifted the trophy for the first time in four years and completed the invincible treble.

With Rodgers' immaculate record in domestic knockout competition falling to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this season, his bond with the Scottish Cup becomes even more important this weekend.

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In the second instalment of an in-depth interview, Scott Brown speaks to Jonathan Sutherland about the highlight of his trophy-laden career at Celtic and how Brendan Rodgers "changed everything" and helped him realise his coaching ambitions.

• Listen to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

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• The 1-1 draw between the sides on 3 February was the first time Aberdeen had avoided defeat against Celtic since 21 April 2021, when they also drew 1-1.

• Daizen Maeda is Celtic's top scorer in the Scottish Cup this season with four goals, but is unlikely to feature on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.

• Bojan Miovski is Aberdeen's top scorer in the Scottish Cup this season with three goals.

• The last time these sides met at Hampden was the 2018-19 League Cup final when Ryan Christie's goal helped Brendan Rodgers' side to the trophy.

Momentum is huge in football.

And right now, at this most pivotal point in a remarkable season, all the momentum is with Celtic as they chase down a league and cup double.

At time of writing the Hoops sit four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership after Rangers failed to close the gap in spectacular fashion by falling to their sixth defeat of the league campaign in the Highlands on Sunday.

This was no smash and grab by Don Cowie’s Ross County and the defeat means Rangers have now won just two of their last seven games in all competitions. Celtic have won five of theirs.

Like winning, losing can also become a habit and for the first time since taking over in October real questions are now being asked of Philippe Clement.

Recent puzzling team selections have led to his side taking just one point from their last two league games while conceding six goals in the process. It’s far from title-winning form.

Celtic on the other hand seem to be hitting their stride at the optimal time with Saturday’s comprehensive 3-0 win over St Mirren highlighting the confidence currently coursing through Brendan Rodgers’ side.

His post-match comments have made all the headlines with the dual effect of galvanising the green and white side of the city while piling the pressure on his rivals.

“This is where Celtic comes alive, as a club and as a team,” Rodgers said.

“Five games to go, Hampden semi-final next weekend, this is the part of the season I’m very excited about. There’s still a long way to go but we’re in a fantastic position."

And that position is boosted notably by the presence of several key players who have been there and done it when it comes to lifting silverware.

Captain Callum McGregor, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Joe Hart and the returning Reo Hatate among others all know exactly what it takes to win both the Premiership and Scottish Cup having done so less than 12 months ago.

Their experience and evident ability give Celtic the undoubted edge at this pivotal time in the campaign.

The manager will continue to promote a one-game-at-a-time approach, and rightly so, with Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final with Aberdeen now the focus.

Let’s enjoy that one as the manager looks to maintain his incredible record in the national competition. Beyond that, let’s see where the momentum takes us.

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Celtic are peaking at the right time after Brendan Rodgers showed “great management qualities” to guide them through adversity, says former Parkhead defender Charlie Mulgrew.

Following a sticky spell before Christmas, with rivals Rangers closing the gap in the title race, the champions have now lost just once in 18 matches.

Celtic face Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday for a place in the Scottish Cup final, followed by three home games out of five in the Premiership run-in which Mulgrew feels they’ll relish as league leaders.

“Rodgers has shown some great management qualities in terms of having the boys up for the Old Firm games. When they’ve been doubted he seems to have the lads responding," said Mulgrew.

“You can clearly see the lads are onside with him. When the manager or the team are maybe going through a tough spell and people are starting to question them they seem to respond every time.

“Celtic are looking strong at the right time and the credit has to go to the manager in how he gets his players to respond to tough times and when questions are asked."

There’s no doubt in Mulgrew’s mind that the return of key players has lifted the Scottish Cup holders’ form in this crucial phase of the season.

“[Reo] Hatate looks like he’s peaking and coming good at the right time," he added.

"They seem to have a settled team, especially with their midfield and two wingers. Callum McGregor, a massive player for them, is coming back fit at a great time and [Cameron] Carter-Vickers looks like he’s got over his injury problems.

"They’re in great form as well so yeah, it’s fair to say they’re peaking at the right time."

All of a sudden, things are looking very much rosier for Celtic as the team finds its groove at a crucial point in the season - and their title rivals stumble - with the finish line in sight.

Brendan Rodgers always said when he had his strongest squad to pick from Celtic would be a real force to be reckoned with, and although he has been without captain Callum McGregor in the starting XI, the champions are once again looking the part.

Regardless of the outcome of Rangers’ remaining game in hand against Dundee, few would expect Celtic to relinquish their advantage now as they seek a 12th Premiership title in 13 seasons.

And with the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen the next challenge to be overcome, thoughts turn to a potential league and cup double - not a bad return at the end of a sometimes fraught season.

But of course there is still serious work to do to ensure both bits of silverware remain in the Celtic Park trophy room, starting at Hampden on Saturday.

Aberdeen showed in the most recent meeting that, at their best, they can cause Celtic issues.

But equally, if Rodgers’ side perform as they can, they should be booking a return ticket to the national stadium as they aim to finish the campaign in style.

Celtic go to Hampden on Saturday aiming to book their place in the Scottish Cup final - you can watch it live on the BBC.

But who should Brendan Rodgers pick in his XI for the last-four tie with Aberdeen?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and choose your team here.