Scott Brown suggests Celtic’s fitness levels played key role in Old Firm semi-final win

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Celtic knocked their bitter rivals out of the cup and secured a place in the final with a dramatic win.

Celtic’s Scott Brown

Scott Brown has suggested that Celtic’s fitness levels were the key reason that they came out on top in their Scottish League Cup semi-final clash with Rangers, the Evening Times reports.

Brendan Rodgers’ men booked their place in the final, where they will face Aberdeen, after a Moussa Dembele goal three minutes from time handed them a narrow victory.

Celtic’s Moussa Dembele scores their first goal

And with the winner coming so close to the end of normal time, Brown has suggested that the Hoops’ stamina proved to be the difference on the day.

“We controlled the game. We limited the chances they had and we created a lot more than they did. I think our fitness shone through at the end,” he said, as reported by the Evening Times.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers celebrates after the game

“We kept going and got a late goal. As I say, we could have had a couple early doors, but it wasn’t to be. Fortunately, Moussa pops up and scores again.

“The big thing is that we’re enjoying our football. We’re playing really well and we’re controlling games from start to finish. We didn’t do as well as we could have today, but we were still the better team overall.”

Celtic’s Moussa Dembele celebrates with team mates after the game

That ability to punish teams at any stage of the game will perhaps send a message out to any side that is set to come up against the Bhoys in the near future.

Opponents will now know that they cannot switch off for one moment, no matter how tired they become as the game nears its conclusion, as Celtic have the potential to maintain the highest level of intensity.

And those levels of fitness will also benefit their chances of competing on several fronts right through the season as Rodgers will have a greater chance of being able to select a fresh squad for almost every game they play, regardless of how many competitions they are in.