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Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That's false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau's informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day's events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office's counterterrorism division told the inspector general's office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D'Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report's findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!" reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray's resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray's announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI's involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.” — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .I WANT Marcus Rashford to succeed, to be the player we know he can be. But we are now on a slippery slope of performances dropping at Manchester United — and nothing is changing from new manager to new manager. So, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football? It’s not an easy game, or an easy life. People think it is because of the amount of money and all that but there is a lot of nonsense that goes on in the background, a lot of stresses. And I don’t see a scenario in the next few months, or years, where he flips it on his head and all of a sudden comes good. Or he turns around and says: ‘I’m gonna prove you all wrong’. That makes me genuinely sad, especially because I know this will be weighing on him mentally long-term. Can you still get something out of him? I’m not sure. He needs a strict hand on him, but even that doesn’t seem to work sometimes. He’s 27 — his peak years. He’s got all the attributes you’d want for a modern-day winger or a striker, but he’s currently got the appetite of a 35-year-old. Compare it to the attitude and desire of Jamie Vardy at 37. It is chalk and cheese. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S Rashford looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everything is always everybody else’s fault and his application stinks. He is still capable of moments. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes and scores the winner against Manchester City this weekend and then goes missing for the next few weeks. He knows he can live off these ‘moments’ and nothing more, and that isn’t good enough. But United have bought this problem on themselves. They have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts. He has been brought through as the academy favourite, the golden boy, yet when adversity hits, he thinks everyone is against him, instead of facing up and focusing on himself. So, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football? And it is the same old cycle. A new manager comes in and for three of four games you see a ‘new Rashford’ and then he slips back into his old ways and old form. He then begins to get dropped. We saw it on Thursday night, subbed off against Viktoria Plzen and already United boss Ruben Amorim looks fed up with him. Look, I’ve been there. It’s not nice when that is happening. As a striker you want to be left on to build some momentum, but I was at the Emirates when he came on against Arsenal last week. He was a disgrace. Amorim summed it up best when he joined, telling Rashford he will get full support but it is up to him as a player, a person. That’s where the problem lies. Nobody wants Rashford to fail, but if he keeps delivering these substandard performances then we will all keep on saying the same things. Some people say it is the environment at United that is a negative impact, but that’s a poor excuse. You don’t see Harry Maguire or Bruno Fernandes acting out or not giving everything, do you? Another academy graduate like Kobbie Mainoo isn’t acting up because he has good role models around him in his position. He is hungry to improve. So, at what point do you take responsibility for your own actions and say: It’s on me. You can only fake it for so long if you are not a hard worker, you’re not sticking to a professional regime and you’re heart isn’t in it any more. At the moment Rashford is nothing more than an academy symbol of the past, a local lad that United are too scared to move on because of what the reaction from the fan base might be. Man Utd have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts. But why would anyone in England want to take Rashford on? Why would boss Mikel Arteta risk ruining all his hard work at Arsenal of building a culture of elite professionals and high standards for him? Chelsea have a young, energetic squad that could revitalise him, but I reckon most of those players would look at him now and think: Well you’re a waste of time. And no one is going to pay his current wages — he is rewarded like he is one of the best three players in the Prem yet he wouldn’t get into any of the top SIX starting XIs right now. If I was advising him, I’d tell him to go abroad but even then I’m not sure how that would go. I do feel sorry for Marcus, but he has had enough bad examples of players around him, or in his age bracket, who have gone down a similar path. It should be enough to motivate you not to become one of them, someone like Jesse Lingard. But Rashford is not seeing the warning signs all around him. THE blame game has another victim as things go from bad to worse at Old Trafford. Manchester United’s first sporting director, Dan Ashworth, arrived in the summer and is gone before Christmas. SunSport exclusively revealed last month that there was trouble at mill. That the new senior management team were already blaming each other for the mess the club were in. Chief executive Omar Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave. New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said making decisions was all down to them. Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox thought it was all a mess under previous boss Erik ten Hag but was part of the team that encouraged him to stay after every other candidate ran for cover. There is word Ashworth did not favour appointing his successor and new head coach Ruben Amorim, preferring an English manager with more experience in our game. Perhaps that was why ex-England gaffer Gareth Southgate’s name was always mentioned after they worked together at the FA. Either way, Saturday’s showing against Nottingham Forest, after their second-half capitulation at Arsenal a few days previously, proved too much.
No. 19 Illinois 75, Md.-Eastern Shore 55VB Prabhu Verlekar Q Our litigation cases in all Courts at different levels are swelling, thereby denying timely justice to public as also affecting ease of doing business. We are inviting suggestions from various stake holders of Society to present to Central Government as also Supreme Court. With your experience, do you have any suggestions to make? Secretary, Young Advocates Forum (Goa Branch) Presently over 4.5 crores cases are pending in various Courts. At the present rate of disposal, it will take 324 years to dispose without considering new additions as per the Niti Aayog report. This great challenge cannot be solved only by increasing number of courts, judges, court infrastructure, three-shift courts, virtual courts, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, restricting adjournments or any other method unless high level sophisticated AI Technology tools like Chat GPT is used extensively in drafting court judgements by feeding basic facts, arguments submitted and cases cited by both the parties. The draft of the order will be ready within 10 minutes after considering all the judgements available on the subject in the web space. The judges can make changes after going through the draft and then sign the judgement order. For feeding the data, trained law graduates can be used. Initially Chat GPT can be used for straight forward disputes like bail, negotiable instrument claims, debt recoveries, consent decrees, ompensation claims etc. For this, judges, court clerks should be trained to use the tool effectively by holding, prompt engineering, workshops for drafting quality judgements. For criminal cases, day and night camp courts should be setup in jails and poor under trial prisoners for petty offences should be released with minor punishments. Argentina and Colombia Courts effectively use Chat GPT tool. Young junior judges should try this tool and see the fantastic results. Q. We are running a hospital. Before we discharge a patient he is required to make payment of hospital charges in full in cash since receiving payment by cheques is risky. Very often payment runs into lakhs. Are there any restrictions to receive payment in cash as per the Income Tax Act? Health Care Givers, Belgaum. Hospitals in India can accept payments in cash from patients under Income Tax Act. However, there are certain restrictions and compliance requirements. Under Section 269 ST no person can receive an amount of Rs. 2 lakh or more in cash from a single person in a day or in respect of a single transaction. Therefore, if your hospital receives cash from a patient exceeding Rs 2 lakhs in violation of this provision, the hospital may have to pay 100 per cent penalty on the amount received. Also note that you are required to obtain PAN number from the patient making cash payments of Rs 50,000 or more and report this to the tax authorities as per IT Rules. Q. I am an Israeli engineer working on a project in India under “resident visa” in Bangalore and visit Goa every weekend. I intend to buy an apartment here. Can a foreign national who is, a person resident in India purchase immovable property in India? Hiam Abbass, Bangalore Yes. A foreign national who is a ‘person resident in India’ within the meaning of Section 29 of FEMA, 1999 can purchase immovable property in India, but the person concerned would have to obtain the approvals and fulfil the requirements, if any, prescribed by other authorities, such as the concerned State Government etc. The onus to prove the residential status is on the individual as per FEMA provisions, if required by any authority. However, a foreign national, resident in India who is citizen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, China, Nepal and Bhutan would require prior approval of the Reserve Bank. Q I wish to open a PPF account in the name of my minor son to get tax free income and claim deduction of Rs. 1.50 lakhs under section 80C of IT Act. Is it possible? Arvind S. Kamat, Taleigao. Under new Public Provident Fund (PPF) rules, PPF accounts opened for minors will earn interest at Post Office Saving Account rates i.e. around 4% until the minor turns 18. This interest is exempt up to Rs 10,000. The maturity period of 15 years for these accounts will start on the minor’s 18th birth date. Separate deduction of Rs. 1.50 lakhs u/s 80C is not separately available for minor. This limit will combine with parents PPF contribution. Q. My ailing uncle is in old age home confined to bed with dementia. He earns government pension of around Rs. 10 Lakhs, besides interest on bank deposits. Is there any exemption from filing tax return available in such cases? Carlos S Castelino- Sanvordem Section 194P of I.T. Act provides conditions for exempting senior citizens of 75 years and above from filing tax returns subject to conditions that the senior citizen is resident in India and must have pension income and interest income from a single designated bank account on savings and deposits only. The same should be earned from the same bank in which he is receiving pension. For this one should submit a declaration in Form 12BBA giving specified information to enable bank to deduct TDS. Only when TDS is deducted, he is exempt from filing tax return. The writer is well established, senior practising chartered accountant with wide experience in taxation and finance. He is also a strategist in turn round management of institutions.
Is Steve Smith finished? No, you won’t get an answer on that – not when a lucky bounce, a dropped catch or a fluke deflection will take all the science out of it. It’s not the most interesting question anyway. The question is how long Smith intends to stay in Test cricket, and it becomes more pressing the longer his dry run continues. There is also the matter of how long such a towering senior player’s performance is allowed to affect their teammates. It is 13 matches since Smith passed three figures, at Lord’s in 2023. In that time, he averages 29.55. His past seven Test innings (picked selectively, since his unbeaten 91 as an opener against the West Indies in Brisbane) have been 31, 0, 11, 9, 0, 17 and 2. Including that innings in Brisbane, his 2024 tally is 232 runs at 23.20. No amount of slicing and dicing can prettify it. Smith’s intention becomes the sole factor because the current selection panel has a proven record of not being able to drop Australian Test players. In three years on the panel, George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and Andrew McDonald have not dropped one single player on a performance basis. The nearest they have come was omitting Marcus Harris at the fag-end of the 2021-22 Ashes series, but that was a reshuffle caused by Travis Head returning following a positive COVID test. Harris was subsequently selected for ongoing Cricket Australia contracts. You have to go back to 2019, before any of the current selectors were on the panel, when Cameron Bancroft was the last Australian player to be dropped. It’s quite a record. It also shows why the chatter around Marnus Labuschagne’s place after Perth was idle speculation. I just wish these selectors were corporate executives given a list of redundancy numbers to fill. Smith’s future, like David Warner’s before him, is in his own hands. His record of 9704 runs at 56.09 gives him that grace, and the selectors’ forbearance means it is a grace that will last as long as Smith wants it. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit: Few have ever been able to guess what goes on inside Steve Smith’s idiosyncratic mind, and it would be folly to start. A couple of observations from the outside. First is that his singular technique never looked like it would age well. Moving so far across the crease, front-on, required two outstanding qualities of the eye. One was to be able to hit every single ball on his pads, because otherwise he was lbw. The other was to have the clarity of mind to judge balls that might be coming in from his off side. This required a quickness and instinct that cannot be taught or imitated. They were Smith’s own. But they were always abilities requiring a young, supple mind. There’s a reason batting isn’t taught that way. Orthodoxy is coached because it survives better. It compensates for other weaknesses. But even masters of orthodoxy such as Greg Chappell , Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting declined after 35. News bulletin (send it to Washington and Moscow, please): ageing is a thing. Smith’s motivations are opaque. It wasn’t a good sign when he selected himself as an opener this year because, in his words, he wanted a new challenge. It didn’t start well and it ended with 51 runs in four innings in New Zealand. Then came the reversion to No.4. The whole escapade was a minor humiliation for one of the greats of the game that wouldn’t have been allowed if the selectors had any authority. Steve Smith hasn’t scored a Test century in 2024. Credit: AP On the field, Smith doesn’t give away clues, and only his closest circle would have much of an idea how he is thinking and feeling. You would expect he is aiming at the 296 runs he still needs to pass the magic 10,000, or a last Ashes campaign next year, but these are only guesses. Making the battle harder still is that the Border-Gavaskar series is a bowlers’ one. Dr Grace said the crowd had come to watch him bat, not someone else bowl, but Australia and India have bedazzling attacks. All the Australian pacemen have been outstanding, but the results in Perth and Adelaide have been determined pretty much by Jasprit Bumrah’s first spell on the first day. In Perth he was sublime. In Adelaide, affected by injury or not, his first spell was poor. The Australian top order, again trying to leave everything, was there for the taking, but Bumrah could not find his accuracy. Nor could his back-ups, and India did not have Australia’s bowling depth. In Adelaide, Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney survived that day-one session, setting the match up for Travis Head on day two. Not Smith, whose technique again showed signs of age and the bad luck that comes with it. Simon Katich has made the astute observation that although Smith might have a big innings in him – something to answer the critics, to reassure himself, to reprise his glory days – but his era of dominating bowlers with consistent plunder is over. He is far from alone. In recent times, only Brian Lara (nine), Kumar Sangakkara (eight) and Usman Khawaja (seven) have continued to score Test centuries consistently after turning 35. All three played with orthodox methods. The hunger remains sharp, at times, but every other part loses that fraction of a per cent that makes the difference at the highest level. A last hurrah is nobody’s entitlement, but cricket is a sentimentalist’s game that doesn’t want to see its highest achievers fade away ingloriously. I don’t think any genuine cricket fan would not wish Smith well. Same for Khawaja, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. But no matter how they go in the middle, they share one certainty. They won’t get the chop. Today’s players can retire on their own timetable. Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter .By Kemberley Washington, CPA, Bankrate.com (TNS) As the end of the year approaches, now’s the time to start preparing for filing your 2024 tax return in 2025. When it comes to tax strategies, generally Dec. 31 is the deadline to make changes that might lower your tax bill. One major exception is the deadline for contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA : You have until April 15, 2025, to make a contribution to a Roth or traditional IRA for tax year 2024. If you qualify for deductible IRA contributions , then a contribution to your traditional IRA can reduce your taxable income for 2024. Here are tips and strategies to prepare now for the 2025 tax-filing deadline. If you had significant changes in your life in 2024 — maybe you got married or divorced, started your own business, or had to claim unemployment benefits — your taxes may be more complicated. Related Articles Business | Buying a house in 2025: your how-to guide Business | Travel scams that can hurt your credit or finances Business | For some FSA dollars, it’s use it or lose it at year’s end Business | A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Business | Savings rates stay strong despite dips: A 2024 recap and what’s next for 2025 As a result, you might need to hire a certified public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or other tax professional to prepare and file your taxes. If you decide to hire someone, it’s best to start planning for that sooner rather than later. Waiting until the calendar flips to April could cost you. The average fee for a professional to prepare and file a simple Form 1040 tax return, with no itemized deductions, is about $220, according to a survey by the National Society of Accountants in 2020-2021, the most recent data available. But that amount rises quickly for more complex returns, and varies depending on where you live. For example, a Form 1040 with itemized deductions costs an average of $432 in states on the Pacific Coast, compared with $285 in New England. No matter where you live, prices usually rise as the tax deadline approaches, so it’s smart to start searching for a tax pro soon. If you’re uncomfortable doing your taxes on your own and can’t afford a CPA, enrolled agent or other tax pro, or to pay for tax software , there are free options to consider. The IRS currently offers three ways to prepare your taxes for free: •With the IRS Free File program, the IRS partners with for-profit tax-software companies that offer free tax-prep software to eligible taxpayers so they can file their federal tax returns for free. Some taxpayers may also qualify for a free state tax filing, depending on the software provider. In January, the IRS will announce the income limit to qualify for the program for the 2025 tax season (for filing 2024 tax returns). For the 2024 tax season (2023 tax returns), taxpayers’ adjusted gross income (AGI) couldn’t exceed $79,000. •The IRS also offers its Direct File program, a free tool that allows you to file your federal income tax return directly with the IRS at no cost. The program supports simple tax returns and is available only in certain states. Check to see if you qualify here. •Another free-filing option is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. IRS-certified volunteers offer free basic tax preparation in person to people who earn less than $67,000 a year, are disabled or whose English is limited. The IRS has an online location tool for hundreds of free tax preparation sites in the U.S. (the locator tool is updated from February through April). Some VITA sites also offer online tax-prep assistance. Now is a good time to create an IRS online account. If you want to see your Form 1040 from last year, or you’re missing a prior year Form W-2 or mortgage interest statement, you can find your documents using this free tax tool. Another benefit of creating an IRS online account is that it allows you to quickly obtain your prior year’s tax information without sitting on the phone for hours with an IRS representative, says Carl Johnson, a certified public accountant in New Orleans. An IRS online account also lets you view your account balance and payment history for each year. You can also create a payment plan to settle your federal income tax debt within minutes. If you’re 73 years old and have enjoyed watching your 401(k) or IRA grow tax-free without touching it, remember that the IRS is going to want its share each year. That means you’ll have to make withdrawals — and pay income tax. If you turned 73 in 2024, plan to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) at the latest by April 1, 2025. Read this IRS bulletin for more information. The amount of your RMDs is based on your age and the year-end values of your retirement accounts. A Roth IRA has two big tax advantages over a traditional IRA : Qualified withdrawals are not considered income for federal (and usually state) tax purposes, and you don’t have to take distributions from a Roth every year once you reach age 73. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA may save you money in the long run. Just know that when you convert an IRA to a Roth, it’s considered taxable income, which will raise your tax bill for that year. Generally, it’s best to convert to a Roth IRA when you’re in a low-income year. As tax season approaches, many people start receiving phone calls, emails and texts from entities claiming to be the IRS. Be wary, and understand that these are scams. Typically, the IRS will mail you a notice before using any other method of communication to notify you concerning issues with your tax return. The IRS won’t reach out via social media or text messaging. Relatedly, the IRS warns taxpayers to be careful when choosing a tax preparer. Taking time to vet your tax preparer is crucial to protect yourself from tax scams and fraud. Before hiring a tax professional, search that person’s name in the IRS database of federal tax return preparers to avoid dishonest “professionals.” “Taxpayers should check the tax professional’s credentials,” Johnson says. Tax pros without credentials “may take questionable positions without any degree of scrutiny or fear of losing their access to the profession,” Johnson says. Taxpayers who don’t file a tax return and owe a tax bill, or who file but don’t pay their tax bill on time, risk severe penalties. The IRS can even seize assets if necessary. Respond quickly if the IRS has been sending you letters because it found an error on your return or claims you owe back taxes. Typically, the IRS will send you a notice if you have a balance due, changes were made to your tax return, or the agency needs additional information. “If you ignore a collection letter from the IRS, you may face wage garnishments, liens, bank levies, and other adverse action. And in some cases, the amount due may increase for failure to respond,” Johnson says. Keep in mind the IRS does offer installment plans and other payment plans. Make copies of your correspondence and use only the U.S. Postal Service, the postmark from which is your proof of timeliness when responding. But whatever you do, don’t ignore the IRS because this may cause more issues in the future. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health
Winning approach: With just one defeat in 19 Old Firm derbies, Celtic boss Rodgers will stick with his tried and trusted method in bid for first silverware of the season By JOHN MCGARRY Published: 22:03, 13 December 2024 | Updated: 22:04, 13 December 2024 e-mail 57 shares View comments Since he first took charge of a Celtic team against Rangers back in 2016, Brendan Rodgers has viewed the days immediately preceding such clashes as a delicate balancing act. Acutely aware of the heightened tension within Glasgow, the Northern Irishman has never wasted his breath by claiming the derbies are just another game. To do so, he contends, would do his players no favours. He also sees a danger in over-egging the pudding. Individuals can easily become too tense about the consequences of what they do or do not do across 90 minutes. An anxious mind is rarely conducive to them performing at their optimal level. After suffering just one defeat in 19 derbies, by some distance the best managerial record in the history of the fixture, it would be a brave man to take issue with his tried and trusted approach. ‘That’s what I’ve always done and it’s worked out okay for us,’ he said with some understatement. ‘I would say it’s not any other game. It’s an iconic game. It’s an amazing game for everyone to be involved in. But then there comes a point when you have to really focus in on the process because that’s ultimately what allows you to win such a great game. Rodgers is used to winning silverware at Celtic having tasted victory in all six of his finals The Celtic manager isn't a fan of trying to play down the magnitude of an Old Firm encounter Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after making it 2-0 to Celtic in September's Old Firm victory ‘So, that’s more what the slant is on. The game’s special. The game’s an incredible game to be involved in. The atmosphere, the tension. People want tickets from everywhere to go to the game, so that’s not lost on me. ‘But, from a coaching and managerial perspective, what allows you to perform and what allows us to perform is to stay calm, to look at our tactical idea within the game and how we then pitch that to the players so they can go and play. And, in the main, I feel we’ve done that pretty well.’ The 15 victories Rodgers has presided over across two spells has made a mockery of the old cliché about the form book going out of the window on such occasions. The dominant side in Scotland this century, Celtic’s results over Rangers in one-off matches have largely been reflective of the times. Which is not to say that the Ibrox club aren’t capable of striking a blow for the underdog at Hampden. Philippe Clement’s side ran Celtic close in last season’s Scottish Cup final and have played their way back into form. Rodgers is wary of the outcome being decided by small margins. ‘There’s always something that can go against you,’ he warned. ‘So, it’s preparing and expecting that. ‘But, going into these games, it’s never so much about who we play, it’s about how we play and that’s always been a real focus. So, going in and playing how we want to, that’s always put us in a really good place.’ Rodgers was able to watch Rangers empty the tank in their draw with Tottenham from the comfort of his sofa having returned from Zagreb in the early hours of Wednesday. Hamza Igamane celebrates his goal against Spurs for Philippe Clement's side With two days fewer to recover from Europe, the preparation of Clement’s team isn’t ideal, but Rodgers won’t let his players fall into the trap of believing they’ll be weary. ‘We’ve done it before ourselves,’ he said. ‘We played with very limited time to recover and played very good games. So, it doesn’t really come into it. ‘It’s one where we, of course, have had an extra couple of days. But it’s the final. Every team that arrives in the final will give everything to pick up the trophy.’ If anything, Rodgers feels the fact Rangers were annoyed at not having taken the scalp of Spurs should act as a warning. As maddeningly inconsistent as Clement’s players have been, they unquestionably have big performances in them. There was certainly no gulf in class when the sides last met at Hampden, in the Scottish Cup final in May. Celtic’s late winner that day came through fresh legs coming off the bench — Paulo Bernardo’s run and shot leading to Adam Idah scoring. Having taken their eye off the ball in the last 16 of this competition at Kilmarnock last season, Celtic could only watch on from afar as Clement’s side beat Aberdeen to take the cup out of their hands. Celtic skipper Callum McGregor goes through his paces in training If any added motivation is needed, it’s provided by the empty space in the trophy cabinet. ‘Well, we don’t have it,’ said Rodgers. ‘It is something that we didn’t take last season, and clearly, it’s the first trophy of the season. ‘We’ve had a brilliant season up until now, and this would be a great way to have something tangible to show for that. But you have to earn it and that’s what we’re ready for.’ Rodgers’ sides saw off Aberdeen and Motherwell in League Cup finals in his first spell in charge. Should he come out on top again, a win over Rangers would be his tenth trophy as Celtic manager. ‘I’ll look back on that once I’m finished and once I’m done,’ he stressed. ‘Going into these games, the wins at Hampden and everything else, it doesn’t really count for much, really. Just because you’ve won before doesn’t mean you can’t turn up and not prepare. ‘I know what it means to people, this game. You never get tired of them or bored of them. They’re incredible games to be involved in. It’s such an iconic fixture throughout the world. ‘So, to have the possibility to have maybe four, five, six of them in the season is absolutely amazing. Like I said, they’re all challenges, but I think this is what we’re built for. The tougher the challenge, then that is what we relish.’ Glasgow Brendan Rodgers Rangers Celtic Share or comment on this article: Winning approach: With just one defeat in 19 Old Firm derbies, Celtic boss Rodgers will stick with his tried and trusted method in bid for first silverware of the season e-mail 57 shares Add commentCelebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health