Even if you’re of a Celtic persuasion, pre-match nerves are inevitable this weekend ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers. That just goes with the territory of this rivalry, regardless of how you view the strength of each team.
But at least if you’re a Bhoys supporter, there can be some degree of genuine confidence about picking up the victory. It’s not a pipe dream or a slim hope. Ange Postecoglou’s team have earned trust that they can win the big matches and deliver the trophies.
For Rangers fans, it’s probably a different story. They know the odds are against them in this one, so naturally the mind is wandering towards the negative. Even trying to look on the bright side, Ibrox-leaning pundits such as Alex McLeish don’t sound confident.
Victory argument for Rangers vs Celtic tough to find
Noting the massive pressure on Rangers right now and the run of derbies without a victory, the former Ibrox boss has suggested he fancies Celtic for this one.
McLeish said [Scottish Daily Mail, 28/04 print edition back page]: “Honestly, it’s torture. I went through a spell later in my Rangers career when we couldn’t beat Celtic. You go through that barren spell when you don’t get a result against your big rivals and it is absolute torture.
“Rangers will need to play at their very best level and probably Celtic should not be at their best level for Rangers to win, I feel, with the way things are at the moment. It does take a wee bit of inspiration and they’ve got to go there, not hoping they can win but believing they can win. Do they have that feeling in the camp? They’ve got to have that.
“There’s monstrous pressure. I guess it’s the same for any of the top teams in the world who are expected to win every single week and I certainly felt it when we were going through bad spells. I couldn’t sleep at night, and when I did nod off, I’d waken up and the pressure was straight back again. We really care that much about it and there’s no chance of just brushing it off.”
As I said earlier, nerves are inevitable for this and it’s folly to offer predictions for these matches as they are so often clouded by emotion. But I can’t say I am particularly fearful of coming out of the wrong end of Sunday. I can’t see the logic for that based on what has transpired this season.
I expect most would agree and it’s telling that pro-Rangers voices are struggling to come up with a justification for them to win, just the old “at their best and Celtic below their best” assessment. That’s just a more polite way of saying you think the Bhoys will come out on top.
We’ll all enjoy or find torture in the outcome, shortly!
In other news, Celtic captain didn’t miss with Rangers comments.
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