By Ryan McDonald

Copyright dailyrecord

Mo Elyounoussi isn’t the type who gets nervous before powderkeg games. But suddenly, the ice-cool Norwegian started shaking before going to war at Hampden. It was a sensation the £16million winger had rarely experienced in his career. On loan from Southampton, Elyounoussi was only moments from stepping into the fire of his first Glasgow derby against Rangers. Then, the penny dropped. It wasn’t jitters. It was Hampden itself rocking to its core with the thunderous noise from the stands as Glasgow’s big two collided in the 2019 Premier Sports Cup Final. In an exclusive interview with Record Sport , Elyounoussi said: “I remember before the game, suddenly my legs started shaking. “I thought, ‘Wow, I haven’t been nervous for a long time.’ I realised it wasn’t me being nervous, it was just that the whole stadium was shaking. “That was the first time I experienced that. Full Hampden Park, everybody jumping up and down, even the pitch was shaking. “I thought it was me being nervous, but it was actually the stadium going nuts. That was a great experience.” The bitter rivals will lock horns again at the national stadium in just a few weeks for a place in the League Cup Final. And for the sake of Brendan Rodgers’ Class of 2025, Elyounoussi just hopes it’s a bit more straightforward than his own Hampden experience. Ten-man Celtic somehow ended a frantic afternoon with their hands on the trophy thanks to a goalkeeping masterclass from Fraser Forster. Jeremie Frimpong was sent off, Alfredo Morelos missed a penalty – plus a glut of chances – before Christopher Jullien scored an offside winner as sickened Gers paid the price for failing to find a way past the inspirational Forster. Elyounoussi – who played through the pain barrier that day – said: “I played with a lot of good goalkeepers, but I think that was the one who was like, ‘Wow, he’s insane.’ I think we all can send big thanks to him, he was the reason why we won that game. “I remember we were really, really struggling. For myself, I shouldn’t have played that game at all. It’s a cup final, it’s against Rangers, so I forced myself. I wasn’t ready. “Big Fraser, he deserves all the praise for that game. Obviously winning a cup final against Rangers, that’s something you remember forever.” It was a monumental occasion too, as Neil Lennon’s history-makers made it ten-in-a-row. Not that one. But ten domestic trophies on the spin. Reaching the holy grail was next on the hit list for the serial-Treble winners after the runaway leaders were handed a record-equalling ninth consecutive title when the campaign was curtailed in March 2020 due to Covid. It was an anti-climactic end to a madcap season-long loan in Glasgow for Elyounoussi. He said: “We won the league, but I remember I was at home. We all flew home afterwards, a few weeks later. “I think there were a few players who got to take a photo with the trophy. We got awarded the league, so they got the trophy at their home. “I was in Norway at that time, so I never saw the trophy. I never got to hold it, really. “Strange times. It’s crazy that Covid was there for two years of our lives.” After months of uncertainty, Elyounoussi had his heart set on returning to Parkhead for a second year as the champions went all out for the fabled Ten. He said: “Definitely. That was the main thing that made me stay. I also really enjoyed being in Glasgow. “My daughter had her first and second birthday in Glasgow. The dressing room, the team spirit – everything was top. “That and together with trying to win ten-in-a-row, it was actually an easy decision to stay for another year. “We went for it but it was a tough year because of playing without fans. You knew you were going to play without fans and all that comes with it made it really difficult for us.” In the end, it wasn’t to be. The campaign lurched from one disaster to another under Neil Lennon and the dream quickly fizzled out. The only positive was completing the Quadruple Treble after a nail-biting penalty shootout win against Hearts. Elyounoussi – now at Copenhagen – said: “That’s incredible. When I tell that to the boys even here, they have never heard about anyone doing that. That’s something you take with you. “That was probably one of the only positive things from that year. I remember Kristoffer Ajer going up to take the penalty and I was like, ‘Oh no! I’ve never seen him take a penalty before.’ “But he executed it perfectly, so I was glad for him and for us.” As the nightmare season drew to a close, it became abundantly clear that a major squad overhaul was on the cards. There was a natural parting of ways for Elyounoussi, too, as he returned south to reignite his Southampton career – inevitably with a few regrets. The 31-year-old admitted: “Not winning ten-in-a-row, that would be the biggest regret. “Knowing you would have been in the history books forever. And playing football without fans, that was tough. “That’s when you realise that football without fans is nothing.” But the bigger picture? Elyounoussi – who scored 25 goals for the club – will always be grateful that he managed to pull on the famous hoops. He added: “Overall, it’s a time that I will always cherish and remember. “You always try to look at the good side of it. I had the good time outside of football as well. I really liked the city. “In the two years I was there, I could maybe count on one hand how many times I saw the sun. That was the toughest thing, I think! “I didn’t go there because of the weather, that’s for sure! But other than that, it was a good time.”