Brendan Rodgers is gearing up his Celtic squad for a crucial face-off against Rangers at Ibrox this Sunday, emphasising the importance of composure in what’s shaping up to be a decisive moment in a tightly contested title race. With Celtic holding a slender lead over their rivals, who still have a game in hand, the outcome of this weekend’s derby is eagerly anticipated.
Rodgers has been clear in his approach, advising his team to keep their focus strictly on the game, steering clear of the noise surrounding the match’s implications. Speaking to CeltsAreHere Rodgers stated, “It starts with the whole build-up,” underlining the necessity to not get caught up in what he describes as the “storyline” of potential disaster. Instead, he sees it as, “But for me the storyline is that there is always opportunity. You arrive, you stay calm and you just look to focus on your performance.”
With a historical context that elevates this fixture as one of the football’s most iconic, Rodgers is conscious of the need for his players to deliver. “This is one of the greatest, most iconic games in world football but you’ve got to perform and you can only do that by staying calm and looking to play your football,” he says, adding a layer of expectation to the already high stakes.
Despite his notable success against Rangers, losing only once in 16 encounters, the Irishman insists that the specifics of the title race haven’t overly preoccupied his planning. “I haven’t over-thought it,” he asserts. His focus remains on victory: “I always prepare the team to win, I never think of drawing or losing a game. I always prepare the team to go and win the game and it’s served me well especially in these types of games.”
The Celtic gaffer finds confidence in his preparations and the clarity provided to his team. “I always feel really comfortable coming into these (Glasgow Derby) games but that’s only on the back of preparation and the clarity we want to give to the players,” he shares. This confidence is also rooted in Celtic’s style of play, which he believes has been a formula for their success in big matches, even if “It’s not always perfect but we have performed well in them.”
As the season has progressed, the return of key players from injuries has injected Celtic with a renewed sense of strength. Rodgers notes, “It’s just having the authority back on the pitch, and you saw that at Livingston last weekend,” underscoring the significance of having his main squad available, including captain Callum McGregor and winger Luis Palma, whose fitness could be crucial for the Ibrox visit.
For Rodgers, the essence of Celtic’s game plan revolves around being “super organised and tight” defensively, while maintaining an attacking mindset. “That will be the same on Sunday. We will be attack-minded and front foot, but attack-minded when we defend too. When we do that, we can play very well,” he concludes, setting the tone for a match that promises to be as strategic as it is symbolic.
