Celtic keeper Joe Hart insisted that he didn’t need to apologise for missing a spot-kick in the tense shoot-out at Hampden – and maintained that he backed himself to stop one.
He saved the decisive kick from Killian Phillips to book Celtic’s final date next month as Celtic prevailed following a pulsating 3-3 draw against an Aberdeen side who twice hauled themselves off the canvas.
Asked if he had to say sorry to his team-mates when his own effort clipped the outside of the post, he said: “Not really.
“They believe in me and to have the confidence and courage to rake the penalty in that moment. I have always said that will be me and yeah, unfortunate.”
Not that it dented his confidence. Junior Hoilett, Alistair Johnston, Jack Milne and Tomoki Iwata netted before Hart denied Phillips.
“I always do feel I am going to save one,” said Hart. “I am a maniac when it comes to penalties. I always feel that I am going to save every penalty, I feel I am going to score every penalty.
“I don’t and I didn’t but luckily our penalties were top quality and it allowed me enough time to make the right decision.
” All season I have wanted to be a part of everything and wanted to out myself forward.
“I’ve got a process. I was put forward and I was committed to my penalty. I just missed it.
“I fully back myself, my team backs me, my manager backs me.”
And the keeper, who will bow out at the end of the season, has insisted he would step up again at next month’s final if needed.
“100%. I always put myself forward,” he said.
“You need people with clarity of mind and people who are confident in what they are doing.
“That’s me, that sums me up as a player, I always put myself on the line but sometimes I miss.
“I would put my name forward again. I just pulled it too much.
“For once it pays off being a goalkeeper and I was able to try to reprieve myself.
“I have taken them in Under-21s tournament, I have taken them in plenty of pre-season games.
“I believe that I am a good penalty taker and I am gutted I didn’t score today but we got the win.
“It was pretty wild, we just couldn’t put the game to bed but our penalties, bar myself, were exceptional. I am delighted I managed to save one.”
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