Celtic fans expect Trebles as Petrov names what Scottish football has missed (2025)

Brendan Rodgers' side face St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final as they bid to book another day out at Hampden

Stiliyan Petrov reckons Celtic’s domination of Scottish football has reached the point where Hoops fans now EXPECT Trebles every year.

Brendan Rodgers’ side face St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi final on Sunday and need just one point from their last five league games to tie up a fourth successive title.

Should they succeed in both competitions it would secure a sixth clean sweep in nine years for the Parkhead club.

And Petrov, who was part of Martin O’Neill’s Treble winning side in 2000-01, says his old club have had no pressure on their shoulders at any point this season with Rangers trailing 15 points behind in the league.

The Bulgarian said: “The Scottish Cup is huge. For Celtic and Rangers, it’s all about silverware. Through the season, you can have bad moments. You can have bad performances as players.

“But you’re judged by your fans on silverware, by winning something. Celtic are on the verge of a treble. Another treble.

“That’s the importance for the fans. It’s bringing that silverware. And that’s what the Celtic fans want.

“Look at Celtic fans. A younger generation have seen only success. They don’t expect anything else. We don’t expect anything else. Former players now, we’ve been spoiled.

“And that’s what the fans expect. They’ve won so many trebles. That’s what the expectation is.

“So it is a huge, huge opportunity for Celtic to make the treble and also to create a great day for the fans.

“Just before the season I was asked my prediction of what to expect - and this was on the map for Celtic.

“The gap between Celtic, Rangers and the rest of the teams is quite big. I think they have shown that over the last couple of years.

“It seems like there was no pressure on Celtic throughout the season, they didn’t really look over their shoulder.

“There was no point that people thought something could change.”

Petrov reckons that lack of competition has become a problem for Scottish football. And for Celtic.

He said: “If you don’t have a competition and you don’t feel pushed constantly, then you kind of need that edge. I think Scottish football has missed that.

“A couple of days ago I was talking about the Helicopter Sunday when it went to the last day. The world was watching. It was exciting.

“Everybody was anxious about what was going to happen. That is the excitement of a league and in the last couple of seasons we haven’t seen that.

“I think the Scottish fans have missed that. Celtic have managed to comfortably win the league and are going for another treble.”

Petrov lifted the Scottish Cup on three occasions and scored the clinching goal in the 2004 final against Dunfermline which was also Henrik Larsson’s last game for the club.

He knows the importance of finishing the season on a high. And he reckons missing out would take the gloss off Celtic’s soar away season.

He said: “Of course. It’s a reality. You have to produce as a player and the players do know that.

“Players like Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor and James Forrest, experienced players, they’ve been through a lot together.

“They’ve been through good times together. So they will make sure that those players go through the semi-final and they’ll be ready for the final.

“Brendan Rodgers hasn’t lost at Hampden. I hope he can keep it that way. St Johnstone will feel confident after that result last week.

“But I think with the manager’s quotes in the paper, challenging the players about concentration and being at a big club and playing under pressure, I think players reacted very well and they know what’s coming.”