Former Celtic captain Scott Brown has given an insight into his trademark wind up strategy that got him through many a derby game.
Brown always looked to step up for the Hoops in the big derby matches and had some interesting battles with Rangers counterparts over the years.
During his time as Celtic captain he seen off many a pretender and enjoyed many a happy day leading his team to victory in derby games.
His iconic celebration pose was born during a Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox when after sticking the ball past Allan McGregor he outstretched his arms in front of loanee El Hadji Diouf to celebrate the goal after there had been an ongoing battle between both players.
In the later years of his 14-year spell at Celtic another target to taunt was Alfredo Morelos as Brown knew how reactive the striker was. He even managed to get the Columbian sent off in a derby game at Ibrox when it was all at stake for the title in 2019.
The now Fleetwood Town boss looks back on those battles during his time at Celtic with great fondness and is keen to have it on record that he came out on top.
“To be fair I won that one as well. No, I like to try to pick and choose my battles quite well,” said Brown speaking to [The Daily Record].
“Morelos is a good player and was Diouf. But I would always try to get in their head and let them see that I’m a decent player.
“You flick a switch and either get them a red card or control the game. That was my mentality – to try to get in their head early doors.
“Did it work? Now and then, yeah. But to be fair they tried to give it back as well.
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
“You don’t mind that. You want to see that kind of rivalry on the park and especially in a Rangers-Celtic game. You want to see somebody getting the better of others.
“I always wanted to get the better of him. I’d always try to wind him up, try to get on the ball and pull him in a little bit, pull him out of position.
“That’s what my game was. It was to try to slowly get into people but also at the same time it was to dictate play, to win the ball back and give it to the 10 other better players on the park!”
