Why Carter-Vickers pleaded with referee to reject penalty

• Admits it was a crazy game
• Says Joe Hart may be off penalties
• Every Hampden game is tough
• Pleaded with the referee not to give late penalty
• Laser-focused on the end of the season

Everything Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers said to the media after his side's victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden...

Have you played in a game like that before?

No to be fair it was a crazy game. You are always disappointed to concede three goals  We just had to stick at it and to end up winning on penalties is a great feeling.

You conceded in the 90th minute and the 120th minute. At that point did you think is this going to be our day?

As a group, we never stop believing.

When Joe Hart stepped up to take a penalty was that expected?

Yeah, we knew he was going to take one. We practise them in training and I’ve actually never seen him miss before. When he stepped up, I thought it would be a good fairy-tale for him, in his last season and hopefully scoring a winning penalty in the semi-final. It wasn’t meant to be but then he ends up saving the penalty which wins us the game, which is all good.

Is that Joe off penalty duty now even if it goes to penalties in the final?

I don’t know, you’ll have to speak to the manager. I’m sure he’ll keep practising but he might.

READ MORE: Why Hart labelled himself a 'maniac' after penalty heroics

Outside of the Aberdeen supporters and the city, nobody gave them a chance. Did they give you a game that you were expecting?

When I look back at the three seasons I have been here every time we have come to Hampden it has always been a difficult game no matter who we are playing. We beat Kilmarnock in the semi-final last season when we won 2-0 but didn't score the second goal until late. It was very tight. In my first League Cup final against Hibs we won 2-1 and that was another tight game. The games against Rangers here have always been tight. Any cup game at Hampden is always going to be a tight game.

Hand on heart, did you think you had conceded a penalty for your challenge?

Yes, I did, to be honest. It probably was a foul. We didn’t get given the foul before but then we did. You obviously don’t want to concede late and then think it’s going to be penalties at that point. I was praying. I thought it was given but then when it wasn’t I was happy.

What did the referee say to you at that point as you had a discussion?

The ref just said it was a foul against Alistair Johnston. Then I saw VAR was checking it. I said to him ‘If you’ve seen it on the pitch then just stick to your decision, please.’

When you get to the business end of the season it is about getting the job done. What does this say about the attitude of the group?

We go out there believing we can win. We've got much more to look forward to and are through to the final and that is all that matters. We have five more league games which are all big games in themselves and a cup final to look forward to next month.