Roberts desperate to sign off with treble

Patrick Roberts believes clinching the domestic treble would be a fitting way to end his time at Celtic.

Patrick Roberts
Published 23rd May 2017

Following the William Hill Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Saturday, the 20-year-old winger is expected to return to Manchester City after an 18-month spell at the Parkhead club.

The treble-chasing champions are unbeaten in 46 domestic games this season, including the whole Ladbrokes Premiership campaign.

The former Fulham player gave up the chance to play for England in the Under-20s World Cup finals in South Korea to finish the season with the Hoops and wants to complete a clean sweep to finish in style a campaign in which he has been one of Brendan Rodgers' outstanding performers.

He said: "If it is going to be the last game, I want to go out on a high. To seal a treble at this massive club would be big for me and hopefully we can do that at the weekend.

"I'm feeling good and confident at the moment.

"As a player you need to feel good about yourself as you go into a game and do what you do best and that's hopefully what I have done. I am enjoying my football just now."

Roberts, who cost a reported £12million when he moved from Fulham to City in 2015, believes Rodgers, who took over from Norwegian boss Ronny Deila last summer, has improved the whole Celtic squad in the intervening period.

"He's a top coach, you can see that," he said. "He has brought not just me but all the players on to a different level.

"I have come on leaps and bounds in the time I have been here, and thanks to the players and the staff here who have all been amazing.

"This year we have been unplayable at times and that's down to his management. His coaching has been brilliant.

"He loves working with young players and bringing the best out of them and he has certainly done that with me, Moussa (Dembele) and Kieran (Tierney), and the rest of us.

"We have gone up to a different gear which has been important in our careers and for Celtic.

"Even the older players such as Craig (Gordon), who is now so good with the ball at his feet, and all the boys at the back have been unstoppable.

"But you could go through the whole team. We have gone through a different gear this year and that is why we have gone all the way in the league.

"We have one more game left and hopefully we can push for that (treble)."