Joe Hart expressed his gratitude to the Celtics fans following his penalty miss, saying, “He was just so appreciative of that.” It’s over, they can’t go on, I’m done…
Hart now has just six games remaining of his professional career, and every one of them currently has huge connotations as the Hoops – three points clear at the top – bid to seal the cinch Premiership title before facing in the Scottish Cup final on May 25 in what will be the ex-Man City keeper’s farewell appearance.
“But for the club to arrange that for Joe, for the tickets to sell out in one day, and for him to feel that affection, that is what players and people miss when they leave Celtic because it just does not happen in the majority of clubs, that feeling. He was just so appreciative of that from speaking to him during and after the event.”
Sunday’s event came just over 24 hours afterwith Aberdeen before making a decisive save from Killian Phillips minutes later. Reflecting on the goalkeeper’s eventful afternoon at Hampden, Rodgers, whose side visit Dundee on Sunday, said: “It takes great courage for any player to step up and take a penalty.
“I’ve seen Joe here (at the training ground) and how well he hits it, so we had no hesitation in putting him on that fifth penalty. But I think where his experience comes in, he didn’t let it bother him. He had the miss, which was unfortunate, but straight away, the mindset shifts to being really positive and he ends up being the hero in a different way, in probably the way he would have expected.”
