Celtic legend Lubomir Moravcik has disclosed that he can’t imagine what it would be like playing in a Glasgow derby in an empty stadium, the Scottish Sun reports.
Moravcik was involved in some memorable wins over Rangers. They usually took place with a capacity crowd of 50 0r 60,000 roaring fans watching on.
Now as Celtic prepare to face Rangers in an empty Celtic Park on Saturday, Moravcik has conceded that he can’t get his around the fact that no fans will be in attendance.
“It will be so weird”
“It will be so weird for the players and if they score it won’t feel like a big deal the way it would if you are celebrating in front of 60,000 supporters there” Moravcik said, as quoted by the Scottish Sun.
“For a game that is so noisy and crazy, it will be very strange to run out into silence. I can’t actually imagine it. I would have hated it. I loved the energy coming off the crowd” he concluded.
Putting the history of the derby into context, it really is quite unbelievable that it will be the first meeting of the teams behind closed doors. It is no wonder that Moravcik can’t imagine the derby taking place with no fans. It just seems the opposite of what the game has always been about.
Any win against rivals has been celebrated loudly
A win against Rangers at Celtic Park provokes wild celebrations from players and fans. You don’t get those in any other league game. It is the same at Ibrox. Any Celtic win has featured long and loud after-match celebrations from players, fans and staff.
It won’t be the same this time, and probably when the teams meet at Ibrox in December. However, that does not take away from the importance of the game.
Celtic’s players will be determined to show that they are still the best in Scotland. They will want to win for the fans watching on television. Okay, it might be different with no fans, but expect raucous celebrations should the Hoops pick up the win. That is what the game deserves.
In other news, Charlton’s owner has urged Celtic target Alfie Doughty to sign a new contract.
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