Celtic Under-18s coach Stephen McManus has extended his support to his players by stressing their entire career will not depend on the outcome of the SFA Youth Cup final against Rangers.

The young Bhoys will lock horns with bitter rivals Rangers in the Youth Cup final on Thursday at Hampden Park as they aim to put the disappointment of missing out last year behind them.




McManus’ team registered a convincing 3-0 win over Queen’s Park on their way to the final, but they will be well aware of the threat possessed by their counterparts who beat last year’s runners-up Aberdeen.

However, ahead of their meeting with the Gers, McManus has extended his support to the Celtic players by stressing their future will not rely on the outcome of the cup final on Thursday.
 


The Bhoys coach admitted that young players learn through mistakes and insisted a single game will not determine their future as a professional footballer in the coming years.

“They’re young players, they’re going to make mistakes, that’s part of their education”, McManus told Celtic TV.  
 

Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 76)


“The most important thing here for us working with these boys is to educate them the best we possibly can and trying to make them the best footballers they can be [in the future].

“They’ll make mistakes along the way, absolutely, they’ll make mistakes on the pitch, but their full career won’t rely on what happens on Thursday night, on Old Firm games or in cup finals.”

McManus also added that Celtic must try to adapt to the big playing surface at Hampden Park by working extremely hard with and without the ball at their feet, and feels they must always remain organised at the back.

“You enjoy them when you win them and it won’t be any different, but it’s going to be a big pitch, they’ll need to work extremely hard when they’ve got the ball and when they haven’t got the ball, and make sure that we are organised”, he added.

McManus, who came up through the ranks at Parkhead, made over 150 appearances in the top flight for Celtic during his seven-year long stint with his boyhood club.