The Old Firm derby returns with Celtic hosting their fierce rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
Advertisement
As well as Rodgers, there are many others making their debuts in this fixture with Joey Barton, Moussa Dembele and Scott Sinclair among many who will be looking to make their mark and subsequently make their names in the eyes of their respective supporters.
“You listened to what we asked and behaved accordingly which has helped our officers ensure the safety of everyone attending the venue”.
Things crank up another notch this weekend though as Celtic play Rangers in the first Old Firm Derby in the League since 2012 and all eyes will be on the Northern Irishman.
He trained at the start of the week at Lennoxtown but had to have a scan which will be assessed by boss Brendan Rodgers who, with a long season ahead, is wary of taking any chances. In the third qualifying round, with Celtic facing extra time against Astana, he embarked on a mazy dribble that won a penalty kick from which he was decisive.
Despite having followed Celtic since he was a child, Rodgers has no first hand experience of the loudest derby in football.
“But, as I say, at 3-1 we had a choice to make – damage limitation or do we actually look to say ‘will we get the next goal here and we could nick something at the end?'”
“I have said it openly – I think in the last match Rangers were the better team in the semi-final”.
“They have strengthened and are better but there is no doubt we have strengthened”.
This left Rangers with just Lee Wallace and Tavernier as recognised defenders and Celtic took advantage as Dembele sealed his hat-trick with a low shot beyond Foderingham.
At times during his first month in Scotland, his form has been patchy, but when it has really counted, the 19-year-old has shown the form that saw Arsenal, Tottenham and Monaco all scrambling for his signature last January. Rangers has eight points from five matches.
Saturday’s match simmered but didn’t begin to boil over until late in the second half.
And despite 11 new players arriving at Ibrox over the summer, the slump has carried on into the Premiership campaign.
Advertisement
“I think the scoreline talks for itself”, he said.
