While Celtic fans poured out of Hampden and began in the hot light of the end of the afternoon, Brendan Rodgers held the courtyard during his post-match media conference in the intestines of the National Stadium.
A 5-0 hammering of St Johnstone had reserved the place of his team during the final of the Scottish Cup next month against Aberdeen, bringing them closer to another scan of clean trophies.
The next day, the assessments of such a horribly unilateral competition were never likely to be the main subject of discussion.
If it was a boxing match, the referee would have arrested him well before the end of the 90 minutes, because one side of St Johnstone Punch could no longer defend himself.
The game itself has become a non-record. Instead, Rodgers was invited to contemplate his own place in history books and the landmark that is now within reach.
With the title of the League almost in mathematical security, it is now essentially a match to become the first Celtic manager to win three domestic triables.
Brendan Rodgers applauds fans after the victory of the Scottish Cup semi-final over St Johnstone put his team on a triple domestic
The CUP League was the first trophy of the season, and now Celtic should add the title of Premiership and the Scottish Cup
Callum McGregor gave Celtic a precious lead against St Johnstone in a hammering of 5-0 in Hampden Park
When asked if these personal steps and the possibility of making it a personal triplet, Rodgers replied: “Clearly. Yeah, that’s the case, yes.
“It will also be 3.1 (in reference to Neil Lennon who will take over and ensure another triple after Rodgers left in mid-season to join Leicester in 2019).
“Yes, of course, it’s good when it comes to you as an individual. For me, this is what is best for Celtic. We win the trophies.
The cheeky smile and the playful mention of what happened with Lennon in 2019 clearly indicated that Rodgers was in good shape.
Once the questions are finished, he moved away and was invited to ask for a photo with an elderly supporter. He duly did it.
The elderly hat seemed maybe an age to remember some of the best Celtic teams over the years, returning to the days of glory under the Grand Jock Stein.
However, this raised an interesting question.
If and when Celtic continues to finish, what would be their sixth tripled in nine years, and Rodgers is alone as the only manager to do so three times, where would this team and this season rank in the history of the club?
Rodgers with the first of its lines of triple servants, alongside the skipper Scott Brown, in 2017 in 2017
Rodgers celebrated another triple in 2018 and he is now ready for a third history as a manager
Rodgers admits that he wants his own piece of history with a third triple of his management
Before people start to come across themselves to mention Rodgers in the same breath as emblematic figures such as Stein, a degree of context and perspective is necessary.
Because, in truth, it promises to be one of the most boring and most insufficient triple that any team has ever accomplished.
If it seems hard or moved, consider this. Until now, in four old companies against the Rangers, Celtic has only won once in 90 minutes.
They lost 3-0 in Ibrox only a few weeks before Philippe Clement was ultimately put out of his misery and dismissed.
They lost 3-2 at home against a team managed by Barry Ferguson, a stop-gap manager who has still not won a match in Ibrox despite being in work for two months.
During the League Cup final last December, they needed penalty to overcome one of the poorest teams of recent memory rangers.
Only fifteen days ago, Celtic lost a championship match against a team from St Johnstone who was sitting at the bottom of the table and looks for championship football next season.
If they win their five remaining championship games, and it’s a big Si, it would put them on the right track to finish the season with 96 points.
The Callum McGregor skipper launched the Celtic score in Hampden on Saturday
The prolific Daizen Maeda also entered the act while St Johnstone was easily put to the sword
The Japanese star Maeda scored two goals while the Perth side was swept away by Celtic
Even if they achieve it, it would still be far from the 106 Celtic points to hoist in the first season of Rodgers when Celtic won the invincible Trible in 2016-2017.
Nor would he be below the 99 points they won in the second season of Ange Postcoglou in 2022-20
As it is always the way with these things, the supporters will probably not care about a news. If Celtic continues to beat Aberdeen during the Scottish Cup final next month, good luck to them.
The fans undoubtedly celebrate with typical obstacles and Laud Rodgers and the players for another season of domination of all the conquerors.
No one can ever keep him away from Rodgers if he becomes the first manager to accomplish the feat three times.
But would someone seriously say that this Celtic team is one of the best in the history of the club? No, it’s not even the best Celtic team of the two rodgers eras.
Listen, Celtic cannot beat what is in front of them. It is not their work to improve other teams or to ensure that they have real competition on the rival sides.
It’s absolutely a just comment. But a sense of context is important when people start to talk about achievements and places in history.
Adam Idah also scored a Tap-in for Celtic when they set up a final of the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen
JOTA obtained the fifth goal in Hampden by an too comfortable afternoon for the side of Parkhead
The boss of St Johnstone, Simo Valakari, admitted that his team was never in the races against a Celtic team that dominates the domestic scene
The lack of danger around the title race is not healthy. He does not make Scottish football favorites and makes a boring and uninteresting product.
Of course, there will always be a kind of bizarre and crazy story that takes place somewhere. But professional sport is based on the competition existing at the highest level.
Scottish football simply doesn’t have that at the moment. In terms of authentic excitement and drama, this season has been a non-event.
When Celtic seeks to keep some of their best players, or, in fact, to attract new talents to the club, it is not useful.
Why should Greg Taylor sign a new contract? To play the second-fiddle once the Kieran Tierney Love-in has started and collect a few medals of which he has already saved a wave of time?
Likewise Reo Hatate. Exceptional in the midfielder when he imposed three assists against St Johnstone on Sunday, what is more to realize in Scotland?
Alistair Johnston will not be far behind as a player who clearly has the talent and the ability to continue and play at a higher level.
Racapiter another triple with your eyes closed can do nothing to stimulate Rodgers and strengthen his desire to stay as a manager.
He has a story to be bored in Glasgow and feel that he has achieved everything he can.
The view of the brilliant Daizen Maeda Score becomes familiar while Celtic dominates the game in Scotland
Certainly, we are not to the point of wanting to leave.
He indicated that Clut Clear recently that he will still be in charge of Celtic at the start of next season.
But it is not difficult to predict that his attitude changed if a European campaign should be wrong and that Celtic was valid towards another title of League on Auto Pilot.
Due to a change in the Scotland coefficient, the premiere champions will no longer be granted an automatic entry directly in the group phase of the Champions League next season.
Instead, they must negotiate equality on two legs. It is not difficult to see Rodgers itch if it had to go wrong.
With the competitors of taking control of the Rangers by always playing hide and seek with themselves, prolonged negotiations now have an impact on the ability of the Ibrox club to hit the ground in summer.
Celtic will almost certainly start next season as powerful favorites to win another triple.
However, the lack of danger and competition at the moment is really unhealthy for all those concerned.
