Cup final loss will leave 'bitter taste' for Celtic
Charlie Mulgrew believes defending champions Celtic will be fired up for the start of the next campaign after missing out on a treble last season.Celtic begin their quest for a fifth successive Premiership title at home to St Mirren on 3 August.Their second league match is away to Aberdeen, who prevailed on penalties in May's Scottish Cup final to deny Celtic a domestic clean sweep."I think the cup final will leave a bitter taste and they'll be thinking 'we need to get back at it'," said Mulgrew, who played for Celtic between 2010-16, winning seven trophies."When you look back it's hard to criticise last season, with how well they did in the Champions League, but trebles have become such a regular thing."Celtic have won all three main prizes on eight occasions, most recently in the 2022-2023 season.Mulgrew, 39, reckons the return of Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is "massive", while suggesting winger Nicolas Kuhn "could probably be replaced" and expects to see more new arrivals in all areas of the pitch."Brendan Rodgers will looking at all positions to keep everyone on their toes," he said."I think another centre-back is one of the main things they'll be looking at. You'd imagine a winger or two will come in."Rodgers is entering the last year of his contract in what is the manager's second spell at Celtic Park but Mulgrew does not think there is any rush to agree new terms."We'll have to wait and see," he said. "Maybe just honour the contract and see where that takes the club and where everybody sits. Then everybody can decide."
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