Nicolas Kuhn wants to take Scottish Cup step against Hibs as he counts down Celtic games with Treble in sight

NICOLAS KUHN insists Celtic are ready to savour their six steps to silverware.

Brendan Rodgers’ side are just three games away from lifting their fourth Premiership title in a row and three away from clinching their ninth Treble by landing the Scottish Cup.

Kenny Ramsay

Celtic are one third of the way towards a Treble[/caption]

Kenny Ramsay

But they’re six games away from two more trophies – a ‘good number of games’ says Nicolas Kuhn[/caption]

PA

First they’re on a revenge mission against Hibs after defeat at Easter Road last month[/caption]

German winger Kuhn knows they face a tough quarter-final against in-form Hibs this afternoon.

Despite losing to David Gray’s side in the league last month, he is certain the Hoops are up to the challenge.

Kuhn said: “It is a good number of games to get to an interesting outcome, but to reach that outcome we have first to get to the next round. That is what we focus on now.

“It’s very exciting. We have goals for the rest of the season and the Scottish Cup is very much a part of them.

“We want to win this tie, we want to get back to Hampden Park, to play there again.

“And, of course, ultimately, we want to win the trophy.

“So far it has been really great to be here, I really like it.

“Hopefully there will be some more trophies to come this season.

“My contract runs until 2029, so I am very much looking forward to what is to come.”

Hibs are probably the toughest opponent Celtic can face right now.

Unbeaten in 15 games and victorious over them just a few weeks ago.

But Kuhn is happy the Hoops have Hibs so soon after their Easter Road slip-up — because they have a score to settle.

David Gray’s side kept their scintillating form going with a 2-1 win in the capital last month — albeit one marred by controversy over Daizen Maeda’s equaliser being ruled out.

Kuhn and his team-mates have consigned that loss to history now, even though the SFA have admitted VAR man Alan Muir got it wrong.

But that hasn’t dimmed their desire to put things right on their way to the Scottish Cup semis. The German said: “It should be a very exciting game. We played Hibs a couple of weeks ago in Edinburgh and lost, so we know they are strong.

“We were not at our best that day, though. After you lose it is always nice to get a game against the same opponent as it gives you the chance to do better than you did last time. At the beginning of the season we had two games against them in quick succession and did well, we won both. Hopefully it’s another good performance on Sunday.

“It is the Cup so there will be a different feel to this match.

“In the cups the goal for everyone is to reach the next round, lose and you are out — it is the same for all teams.

“The fans obviously know this, so you get a great atmosphere at the ties. I am sure that will be the case in this one.

“Hibs will have a lot of fans with them but I like that. For example, the away games in the Champions League are always enjoyable.

“You get the big home crowds and, of course, we always have our supporters with us too.”

Celtic lifted the Premier Sports Cup back in December, so with the league title all but bagged, the Scottish Cup is the final piece of the Treble jigsaw. It wasn’t plain sailing to get the first one over the line, though, when Kuhn’s goal against Rangers in the final was cancelled out by Danilo just seconds later.

Eventually Brendan Rodgers’ side won through on penalties, although the 25-year-old former Rapid Vienna winger didn’t play a part in that shootout.

He said: “When I scored I thought that would be it — that the cup final was over and we had won it.

“Unfortunately, we conceded a goal right after and the game went to extra time, but we did well in that, also in the penalty shootout, so it was a deserved win.

“I would have taken a penalty no problem, but it was a long and hard game so we did need fresh legs. I was one of the players to be substituted.

“In the end it was perfect. We have had a lot of really, really good games this season — especially in the Champions League.

“The Leipzig game at home was great and also the game away at Bayern, with the exception of the last minute.

“Those were really special for me. A lot of my family and friends were at the game and were really happy.

“I met them after the game, it was really nice.

“They were happy for me to score against Bayern but I think also everyone in Germany saw that Celtic did a really good job against them.

“Frankfurt and Leverkusen have since lost against them, so I think we did a really good job there.

“My family comes over to see me play quite a lot.

“They like it at the stadium and in Glasgow. I think some are coming for the Rangers match.”

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