Yes, it feels like the end of the world after losing the 10 ahead of next weekend’s Glasgow derby at Celtic Park.
Nine years of hard work has felt like it’s gone down the drain in one campaign. One miserable, miserable campaign where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. I don’t know about you, but it feels like every football match I’ve watched this season hasn’t gone how I would’ve liked.
It’s been a long, long time since Celtic fans have experienced a season containing so much pain. But it’s happened, and the truth is we need to suck it up. Rangers are coming to Parkhead next weekend and anything other than three points heaps yet more embarrassment onto our club. We’ve had enough of that this season.
So here, as we kick-off some derby build-up, we pinpoint three reasons as to why the upcoming clash is still massive for Celtic:
1. The protection of the Invincibles’ legacy
I don’t know about you, but some of the comparisons between this Rangers team and our own 2016/17 invincibles are tiresome. The likes of Neil McCann in the past has stated that they could emulate Brendan Rodgers’ treble-winning heroes in the league [BBC].
People are forgetting just how good Rodgers’ team was. The football they dished out at times was surreal, and let’s not forget, they did it whilst securing all three domestic trophies. That’s something that isn’t possible for Rangers after St Mirren bundled them out of the Betfred Cup back in December.
Even so, Rangers are closing in on an invincible league season. That can’t be denied. And if they somehow manage it, watch the comparisons to the invincibles come flying in again. You’ll even have some claiming that Steven Gerrard’s team is somehow better.
That’s the kind of nonsense we’ll have to listen to if we fail to topple them. This group of players have let Celtic down all season. The least we deserve and the invincibles deserve is for them to try and protect their legacy. Remember, plenty of players from the 2016/17 season are still part of the Celtic squad today. They’ll be itching to ensure their league record isn’t matched by Rangers.
2. Momentum builder heading into next season
These games always matter. Even once you’ve won the league, as we’ve done in the past, you always want to rub your rivals’ noses in it. When the title is secured and you go on to lose the derby, it irks you. It makes you feel as though you’ve failed to prove a point. Even with the title won, you still struggle to get over being knocked over by your rivals.
Celtic are on the other side of that this season. We’ve been battered and bruised, with the only saving grace being that the season is nearly over. Between now and then, the goal is simple – build some momentum.
If we can beat Rangers twice in that timeframe, it’ll be big for the club. It won’t win us anything or guarantee success for next season. But what it will do is plant a seed of doubt in our rivals as well as increase belief in our dressing room and amongst our support.
Make no mistake, another two losses in this fixture would be a disaster. It would leave us at our lowest ebb in a long time. That’s something that must be avoided. Going into the summer window full of belief after two derby successes would be ideal. It’s exactly why Rangers have come into the last couple of seasons buzzing. It’s time we do the same.
3. Glasgow derby win gives potential Celtic managerial candidates assurance
Celtic fans want a big name to come in and replace Neil Lennon permanently. That probably goes without saying. Someone with experience and who has a track record in rebuilding teams and making them successful. However, they won’t come cheap and may also be concerned with the decline of the club this season.
Winning this fixture, especially at Parkhead, would give some of our managerial candidates a real boost. It would give them peace of mind that they’re actually working with a highly-talented squad. One that has simply underperformed due to reasons outside of a lack of ability.
Contrast last to losing to them four times. That gives off the wrong impression. It leaves fans without hope and would hardly excite the higher-quality managerial candidates.
Everything we’re doing now is to help the rebuild for next season. Taking this game with less than the level of intensity it requires would be a big mistake. It could be the difference between our top managerial choice fancying the gig or not.
In other news, we discuss why Celtic can forget keeping this 2016 Ronny Deila signing.
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