Celtic Hadapi Dunfermline Athletic di Final Piala Skotlandia

Celtic bersiap menghadapi Dunfermline Athletic dalam pertandingan babak final Piala Skotlandia di Stadion Hampden Park, Glasgow, Sabtu, 23 Mei 2026, demi mengincar gelar ganda domestik musim ini.

Klub berjuluk The Hoops tersebut baru saja mengamankan gelar juara Premiership Skotlandia setelah mengalahkan Hearts dengan skor 3-1 pada akhir pekan lalu. Kemenangan tersebut sekaligus memicu euforia besar di dalam internal tim asuhan manajer interim Martin O'Neill.

Sementara itu, Dunfermline Athletic yang berkompetisi di divisi Championship berusaha mengakhiri penantian trofi selama 58 tahun di bawah arahan mantan manajer Celtic, Neil Lennon. Langkah Dunfermline ke partai puncak terbilang impresif setelah menyingkirkan tiga tim dari kasta tertinggi, termasuk Hibernian dan Aberdeen.

Perjalanan Celtic menuju final dipenuhi drama setelah mereka harus melewati babak perpanjangan waktu dan adu penalti pada dua fase sebelumnya. O'Neill berhasil membawa pasukannya menang adu penalti 4-2 melawan Rangers di perempat final dan melibas St Mirren 6-2 di semifinal melalui babak tambahan.

Ketajaman penyerang Daizen Maeda menjadi modal penting bagi Celtic menjelang laga di Hampden Park ini. Penyerang asal Jepang tersebut tercatat selalu mencetak gol dalam lima pertandingan terakhir untuk Celtic, termasuk saat menyumbang gol di laga semifinal melawan St Mirren.

"Not only did [Neil Lennon] do brilliantly as a player, but he did fabulously as a manager, his record is quite extraordinary." ujar Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill menambahkan bahwa kepemimpinan Lennon musim ini sangat berbahaya mengingat rekam jejak Dunfermline yang mampu menumbangkan tim-tim besar sepanjang turnamen.

"I think, yes, there's no question [he is a dangerous manager to face]." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

Pertandingan final ini juga menjadi ajang pembuktian bagi O'Neill yang kembali melatih di usia senja setelah sempat lama tidak menangani tim sepak bola sejak Oktober tahun lalu.

"I know he mentioned that the game against Falkirk was a bit attritional in the semi-final, but they found a way to win, stayed through it until they got through on penalty kicks." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill menegaskan fokus penuh anak asuhnya kini beralih total ke kompetisi piala demi melengkapi kesuksesan liga domestik.

"It'd be fantastic if we could do it," tutur Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill memuji atmosfer positif di dalam skuadnya yang berkomitmen penuh untuk menyelesaikan musim dengan raihan trofi tambahan.

"It'll be a big challenge indeed. Dunfermline have already knocked out three Premiership teams along the way, so they deserve to be here." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill menyatakan antusiasme tinggi para pemain untuk tampil maksimal demi tidak mengecewakan para pendukung klub.

"We've got to be right for the game, we've had a great couple of days, and it's been fantastic since Saturday evening. It's been really fantastic, but now it's total concentration on the game, which I believe the players, having come this far, will want to finish it." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

Manajer veteran tersebut mengonfirmasi suasana perayaan juara liga masih terasa, namun fokus taktis tetap menjadi prioritas utama tim.

"The players are really up for the game. There's a strong mood in the camp wanting to do it and not let people down, having come this far." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill merasa bangga karena pengalamannya sebagai manajer senior masih bisa memberikan dampak nyata di era sepak bola modern.

"The euphoria of last Saturday has definitely hung around for a few days, which you would expect." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill mengungkapkan kekhawatiran awalnya saat pertama kali kembali melatih terkait perkembangan taktik terkini yang dinamis.

"The pleasing thing for me, if I truly reflect on it, is there is still a place in this game for older gentlemen," cetus Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

O'Neill merasa bangga bisa mengembalikan reputasi kepelatihannya tanpa merusak memori kesuksesan yang pernah diraih dua dekade silam.

"Despite the tactics that are involved now in the game, I do believe someone with some sort of experience can still play a part in proceedings." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

Di kubu lawan, Neil Lennon menegaskan status non-unggulan Dunfermline bukan berarti mereka akan menyerah begitu saja tanpa perlawanan sengit di lapangan.

"When I first stepped in way back in October, that was my main concern. Not having managed for some time, there are different ways of playing the game." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

Lennon menolak anggapan bahwa timnya hanya menjadi pelengkap dalam pesta penutupan musim bagi Celtic.

"That was my concern, not about destroying anything I might have done 20-odd years ago, but being too old to be in this game. That is certainly a great sense of pride for me now." kata Martin O'Neill, Manajer Interim Celtic.

Lennon menyadari besarnya tantangan yang dihadapi pasukannya, terlebih setelah mereka gagal mempromosikan klub ke kasta tertinggi akibat kalah dari Partick Thistle di babak play-off Championship pekan lalu.

"It's not a day out for us." tegas Neil Lennon, Manajer Dunfermline Athletic.

Lennon menanggapi komentar publik yang berspekulasi mengenai potensi raihan treble andai O'Neill melatih Celtic sejak awal musim.

"I've seen a lot of comments this week about Martin [O'Neill] picking up the trophy with Callum McGregor and if he'd have been here earlier in the season, he would have been winning a treble." kata Neil Lennon, Manajer Dunfermline Athletic.

Lennon menekankan keyakinan internal skuad Dunfermline untuk menciptakan kejutan besar pada pertandingan final kali ini.

"I wouldn't dismiss us. We're the underdogs, but underdogs bite." cetus Neil Lennon, Manajer Dunfermline Athletic.

Laga ini menjadi pertemuan pertama kedua tim sejak Agustus 2019, sekaligus momen emosional bagi Lennon yang pernah meraih sepuluh trofi sebagai manajer Celtic.

"We will come – I wouldn't say brimming full of confidence – but with an inner belief that we can achieve something here. We're under no illusions as to how difficult that's going to be." kata Neil Lennon, Manajer Dunfermline Athletic.