On drawing Hibernian in the next round …..

“It's a good draw, I think Hibs will see it exactly the same as we do.

“If we're all being honest, the three other teams would have wanted to avoid Celtic. They are the strongest team at the minute so from that point of view we are pleased.

“It's not anything against Hibs, I'm sure Neil Lennon will be equally as pleased as ourselves. I think when you get to the semi-final you expect a tough opponent. And that is exactly what we are getting. I think the experience of their manager, the experience of winning the cup, being the holders and the level of player that Hibs have, it'll be a very close game I'm sure.

“We just need to try and go there in good form.

“They were not favourites when they beat Hearts in the last round, they were not favourites when they won the cup last year. It is more or less the same group of players who won the cup but are arguably better with the additions that they have made. They have a very experienced manager who knows what going to cup finals is all about and winning semi-finals. I think they have a lot going for them. I think when they beat their biggest rivals they got some momentum from that. You can see Hibs is a club going the right way and are looking very strong to come back into the Premiership.

“We will give them every respect. We need to make it as difficult as possible for them and as I say hopefully we go into the game on the back of a good run.

“We are 90 minutes away from another final. We said at the start of the season we wanted to try and win two cups. That was our objectives, or at very least be in a position to win a cup. One cup final did not go the way we wanted clearly. We said after that game we would only start to feel better about ourselves by visiting another final as quickly as possible. We are now 90 minutes away from doing that.”

“We are 90 minutes away from another final. We said at the start of the season we wanted to try and win two cups. That was our objectives, or at very least be in a position to win a cup. One cup final did not go the way we wanted clearly. We said after that game we would only start to feel better about ourselves by visiting another final as quickly as possible. We are now 90 minutes away from doing that.”