"Just about every big game I’ve been involved in has had some ridiculous twist or turn and I’m expecting the same at the weekend..."

This wasn't Ange Postecoglou's first rodeo. He predicted some cup final mayhem and, like so often since his arrival in Glasgow, he was right.

Shock inclusions, shock exclusions, world-class goals and a world-class atmosphere combined as Kyogo Furuhashi's double ensured Celtic took home the first trophy of the season and the first of the Postecoglou era.

Here, we take a closer look at some of those twists and turns in the aftermath of the League Cup final.

Twist – Anthony Ralston’s omission

After his heroics – and I don’t use that word lightly – against Ross County midweek the collective gasp at the announcement of Ralston’s place on the substitutes’ bench was almost audible back on the M74.

Josip Juranovic has been a fine acquisition so far since his summer arrival, and deserves credit for performing out-of-position more often than in his natural one, but an argument could have been made that such was Ralston’s form if it were a straight choice between the two for this game the nod should have been given to the Scotland man.

As it was, Postecoglou opted for Juranovic. The typically-composed Croatian set his stall out early - with an overlap and cross in the fourth minute winning a corner - but was also liable to a couple of lackadaisical moments in what was a decent if uninspiring showing.

Turn – Kyogo Furuhashi’s inclusion

Postecoglou refused to rule the Japan striker into contention for the showpiece in the build-up to the match but, notably, he also refused to rule him out.

And so it came to pass that the 26-year-old, already a talisman for the new era at Parkhead, took his place in the centre of attack in what must have been a massive boost to players, staff and supporters alike.

 

No surprise, then, that he picked up exactly where he left off. The Japan international's customary intelligent movement and infectious work-rate were rewarded with the decisive, cup-winning goals.

"I know his mentality," Postecoglou said after the game. "He felt responsible to go out there and help."

What a way to do it.

Twist - Another soft tissue injury

This time David Turnbull was the unlucky Celt to go off. 

The Scotland midfielder has been an ever-present so far this campaign and left the field in tears upon the realisation his final was over. 

His name now graces a relatively lengthy list of players who have been forced to become acquainted with the Lennoxtown treatment tables for similar injuries, with the high-intensity demands of life under Postecoglou regularly put forward as an underlying factor.

The Greek-Australian reckons it's actually more about a damning mix of the fixture list and limited personnel options though.

READ MORE: Detailed Celtic player ratings as Kyogo steals the cup final show and repays Ange Postecoglou's faith

"We’re suffering because of the amount of games we’re playing and not being able to rotate the squad a lot has hurt us," the manager said. "That’s why we’re picking these injuries up. We'll just need to see how he (Turnbull) is."

Either way, it's a worry. The January transfer window has always been important as phase two of the club's rebuild but additional quality options for more rotation will naturally lessen the risk of such problems occurring as regularly as they are just now.

In Turnbull's place came Nir Bitton. The Israeli, who was arguably unlucky to miss out on a starting place due to his recent good form anyway, slotted in well and was particularly beneficial when seeing the game out late on.

Turn – Bernard Higgins

Not strictly in the cup final but still worth mentioning.

As protests against the purported appointment of the Police Scotland assistant chief constable to a senior role at the club entered a third month, the morning of a cup final was probably the last time anyone expected the silence surrounding the matter to be broken.

Banners, sit-ins, silent protests and even tennis balls were utilised by fans to make their views heard, all to a muted response from the Celtic hierarchy.

 

Then, in the hours before the game, a spokesman for Higgins was reported as saying: "To address recent speculation, I can confirm that I will not be joining Celtic FC when I retire from the police on 31 December 2021."

The club's unwillingness to engage on the matter will not, you'd imagine, be forgotten. 

Still, at its core, the announcement can surely be counted as a victory for people power and the effective use of demonstrations even if those it concerned will likely never concede that point.

Twist - Hibs taking the lead

Back to the football now. Against pretty much all the trends of the match up to that point, it was Hibs who found the net first.

In fairness, the Leith men did approach the second half with far more gusto than they could muster in the first. Nonetheless, Paul Hanlon's header would still be filed in the 'unexpected' category.

The goal itself, while a good leap and header from the Hibs skipper, will continue to feel preventable from Celtic's point of view.

 

Carl Starfelt seemed to be brushed aside a tad easily while the ball hung in the air for so long an argument could be made that Joe Hart - otherwise pivotal in the victory - may have been worth a claim attempt. Critiquing Juranovic's attempted goalline clearance would probably be on the harsh side, however.

And anyway, as Postecolou is always saying, it's all about how you respond to these setbacks. An equaliser virtually straight from kick-off isn't a bad answer, is it?

Turn – One of Kyogo’s early runs being found

I figured this deserved an entry of its own.

The Japan striker has been making such runs all season. One of the frustrating things from the stands is being able to see them when his team-mates on the pitch cannot, or do but can't get the ball released quickly or accurately enough.

 

Not so at Hampden. And of course it was Tom Rogic who found him. The Australian has become more and more instrumental as the season has progressed; Sunday was no different.

His quick-thinking in taking Celtic's free-kick straight away (there's that "we don't stop" stuff again) meant Kyogo, switched on as always, not only had the space to run into but the right facilitator to make it work too.

As for the cup-winning finish? Simply sensational.