CUP FINAL TEARS ARE OVER AND DON WITH

Rodgers not driven to atone for May woe

- BY RYAN MCDONALD

ELEVEN weeks on from that Treble-busting defeat at Hampden and the pain still lingers.

It was the first time that Brendan Rodgers had picked up a runners-up medal in the stadium yet you won't hear hard-luck stories from the Celtic boss.

In his mind, Aberdeen were worthy winners as they finally ended a 30-year Scottish Cup drought. For a club that's hoovered up 21 of the last 30 domestic trophies, it served as a timely reminder that success isn’t guaranteed.

Rodgers has rammed that message home to his squad as they gear up for another hectic campaign - and a quickfire reunion with the Dons.

He said: “The Cup final was clearly hard to lose because you know the disappointment that it gives so many people.

“We've been on the other end of winning these games and winning finals. So you know the disappointment that people feel on losing a Cup final.