The Hoops defender was outstanding at Ibrox but admitted his relief at surviving the spot kick drama
06:00, 10 Mar 2026Updated 07:19, 10 Mar 2026
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Liam Scales was bursting with pride after skippering Celtic to dramatic Scottish Cup glory at Ibrox.
But the defender was also feeling sheer relief. It says it all about the Hoops’ unsung hero that he wasn’t just prepared to lead out the side at Ibrox on Sunday in the absence of injured captain Callum McGregor.
Scales was also ready to lead from the front – as he’d stuck his hand up to take Celtic’s potentially crucial fifth penalty kick in the shootout. That prospect might shock – and possibly even scare – some Celtic fans, but the man himself was just glad his teammates did the business and saved him the stress.
But even volunteering for the duty was further proof of the Irishman’s worth to this bashed, bruised and depleted band of Bhoys. Scales was shunted out of his usual centre back berth to slot in for crocked Kieran Tierney.
And while Auston Trusty, Benjamin Arthur and then Dane Murray did a magnificent job keeping Rangers at bay for two hours, Scales was also rock solid down the flank with another dependable display.
He might not have got the chance to be the spot kick hero, but he was thrilled his Celtic bravely battled their way into a last four clash with St Mirren. Scales said: “It was right up there. It would be one of the proudest moments for sure, captaining the team to win there.
“I was actually the fifth penalty taker as well – so I’m glad it finished up before me, to be fair! It was definitely one of the proudest moments. But again, it’s a quarter-final, we still need to go on and win the semis and win the final for it to be worthwhile.”
Scales was in a state of minor shock at the end, which was understandable given the shootout drama and then the mayhem on the pitch afterwards. When the dust settled, though, Celtic secured their spot at Hampden to round off a brutal run of away fixtures that many predicted would END the Hoops’ season.
Stuttgart, Aberdeen and Rangers away twice was an ominous prospect for a Parkhead squad, ravaged by injuries and lacking in key areas.
But Martin O’Neill’s men pulled off wins in Germany and at Pittodrie, roared back from two down to claim a precious Premiership point at Ibrox and then held firm under fire to get through the cup tie.
Scales said: “I think people questioned how we’d get on. The four away games and the 10 days, having to go to Ibrox twice and have a European game in there as well. I just think that the character is brilliant in our dressing room.
Referee Don Robertson speaks to VAR before ruling out the goal by Daizen Maeda for an offside by Liam Scales in the build up(Image: SNS Group)
“We know it’s there, we know maybe the quality, we haven’t got to the levels as consistently as we would like. But the character has got us through games, scoring last-minute goals and keeping a clean sheet on Sunday. It’s given us good momentum now to kick on.
“I was delighted. It was a difficult game, probably not the best game. Sort of different to the previous weekend, but when we had to defend, we defended and sometimes it’s like that there. It’s brilliant to keep a clean sheet and then coming down to penalties, it can go either way and luckily we were better.”
Scales played it down, but some of the defending was heroic. Trusty was a colossus and rookies Arthur and Murray rose to the occasion.
He said: “They were brilliant. Benjamin, to come into a game like this, he’s only played a handful of senior games, he’s young, and just to play it the way he did with a cool head.
“He obviously hasn’t played many games, so he couldn’t finish out the game, but for the time he was on the pitch, he was excellent. Auston’s obviously experienced and played well.
“For Dane to come in, it’s not nice coming off the bench in a game like that. He made some big blocks, big headers. I think all three of them did. It’s hard to pick a best out of the three, they were all just brilliant.”
Keeper Viljami Sinisalo’s reputation also soared – and he now looks to have grabbed the gloves off Kasper Schmeichel.
Scales said: “He’s so calm, he’s such a calming influence on the team. I said it to him after the game, I don’t think he knows how much of a relief it is when he comes out and collects a corner the way he does.
”It takes so much of that threat away. He was brilliant off his line. He came out and cleared a few ones that were dangerous, but it was over the top, things like that. He’s been brilliant. I think he hasn’t put a foot wrong and I’m really delighted for him.”
Scales has proved he’s a leader as well – but he revealed the usual skipper still had a big role in the background.
He said: “I found out (he had the armband) just before the game, I suppose. It wasn’t really said, I just realised it coming up just before the warm-up. I think we do have a team full of leaders.
“It might not be the most vocal team, but the way the players play and compose themselves on the pitch, I think we have a lot of leaders. It’s a brilliant feeling. Callum was in there. He’s brilliant at that. He’s amazing at speaking and motivating. He was there for all that, so I didn’t have to worry about that.”