Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted ‘not having a good game’ for Celtic against Rangers at Ibrox.
In the first of a double-header of Glasgow Derbies earlier this month, the 32-year-old was given the nod for just his second start for the club.
Then, with Celtic 2-0 down, he was hooked at half-time for Reo Hatate, who would end up scoring a vital equaliser to complete a second-half comeback.
Looking back on the game, Oxlade-Chamberlain showed experience and professionalism by making an honest judgement.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain admits ‘not having a good game’ for Celtic vs Rangers
Asked about playing against Rangers by All Out Football, he said: “I don’t know if we’ve played them! We’ve had a few scraps with them, but there wasn’t much soccer from us… it’s just different.
“I can’t explain exactly why, it’s just different. And I think I spoke to Robbo after the first game, and I didn’t have a good game, I came off at half time.
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“And I said to Robbo, that wasn’t pretty. He said: I told you, it’s not football, that game is not, it’s not pretty, it’s a war and you find a way to win.”
“It was then put to Oxlade-Chamberlain if it was gladiators and he added: “Literally it is, it is. Like even off the pitch, in the tunnel, like the rivalry between staff and players.
“You’re either one or the other. There’s no sitting on the fence up there. You’re either Rangers or Celtic, and that’s it.
“I think just being back in in the country and in this culture… bviously I went to Turkey for a couple of years, and it’s a different culture out there, the way that they see the game and just being in a dressing room with not many English or no English lads really, it’s different.
“So I think coming back into a good group of lads that are like-minded and shared similar experiences, it’s really good.
“I’m lucky enough to be at another club that’s massive and is really competitive and there’s pressure and expectation and all of those things. It’s just exciting and it is a big, big club.”
The midfielder has made seven appearances since accepting Martin O’Neill’s offer to join in early February.
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Celtic’s midfield options currently
Arne Engels’ return to training is a major boost for O’Neill, with the team’s form faltering in his absence.
The Belgian’s trio alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren had previously become Celtic’s established first-choice midfield three.
Hatate also seems to be on something of an upturn in form which started in the aforementioned draw at Ibrox.
Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan are finding starts few and far between, especially since the arrival of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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