6 Celtic presser takeaways as Brendan Rodgers quizzed on Rangers collapse and injury news

It's amazing the difference a few days can make in the weird and wonderful world of Scottish football.

Just on Saturday, there was an anxious feeling at half-time that Celtic might struggle to get the job done against a stubborn St Mirren side. Those nerves were eventually settled shortly after the break when Reo Hatate broke the deadlock before Kyogo and Adam Idah clinched another vital victory.

Less than 24 hours later, Rangers fans in Dingwall taunted their Old Firm rivals by gloating that they were going to win the league. But an unlikely fightback from Ross County flipped that narrative on its head, and more dropped points in Wednesday's draw with Dundee has moved Celtic back into the driving seat for three-in-a-row.

Yet for Brendan Rodgers and his players, nothing has changed. Gers' slump in form may have come at the worst time for Philippe Clement, but Rodgers won't allow his squad to lose focus by events across the city. The task remains the same. Win their remaining five games and Celtic will be champions.

The Northern Irishman has always said his team comes alive at the business end of the season and as for now, his firm focus is on overcoming Aberdeen to book a place in the Scottish Cup Final. Here, Football Scotland picks out the six headlines from today's press conference at Lennoxtown.

Injury news

"Daizen is still out. We just have to see over the remainder of the weeks left if he plays any part. It certainly won't be tomorrow. Liam Scales is back available in the squad which is really good news for us. Apart from that, we're pretty much the same."

Celtic 'coming alive'

"Our training rehearsals have been great this week. Everyone is on the same page, we've got players back available. The quality and the speed of the training has been absolutely superb. It's this time of the season where a club like ourselves comes alive with the anticipation and the opportunity to win titles. That's something that I found here in my first time and feel here again this time."

How he views the league now

"Well, we don't play in the league for a week so it's not my focus. My message has always been the same. It's not how you start the marathon it's how you finish it. We're improving day by day, looking good on the field with still lots of improvements to make, and performances in the main have been good. But there's still a long, long way to go in terms of the league. Five games is 15 points, there's a lot to play for. Our focus for now is very much on getting to the final."

Any doubts about Celtic's title chances across the season?

"Listen, we haven't won anything yet. We're in a semi-final which is great. We're improving and getting better and our performance level has shown that. I demand more from the team and we'll push right until the very last whistle of this season. But for me, it's a part of the league campaign. You will not play 38 league games or cup games at the very highest level. You're going to have those dips and those waves. Your strength is about how you shift that, in those moments where it hasn't gone quite well. The players have been absolutely brilliant. They've had to dig in in lots of moments this season, but we've just chipped away, stayed focus on our game model and how we play, and whenever important and influential players come back in, then all of the pieces come together again and the fluidity of the team is much better. You can never have doubt. The more we've worked together, the more we've been together - on and off the pitch - it all seems like we're on the same page."

Has Rangers' results changed the mood at Lennoxtown?

"Not really. The focus has always been on ourselves. I made that point to the players. Irrespective of what happens with other teams, we can only do our work because you can't soften up, especially at this time, just because another team have drawn or lost. That's irrelevant. You have to perform and get the result. If you come off it against teams that are motivated, then they can give you a problem. For us, we have to continually focus on our own performance, irrespective of what happens elsewhere. As I've said, we have to create OUR story, and for that, we have to work at it. That hopefully will be the storyline come the end of the season."

The Hampden atmosphere

"Obviously, the game and the occasion will create the atmosphere. Every time I've been there, I've loved the atmosphere there. There's never been a time whether it's been the Rangers, Aberdeen or Motherwell games... every time I've been there, it has always felt like a great occasion. Now, you might say that when you win, and of course that does help. But, I've always felt they've been great occasions and they are occasions to enjoy."