The talking will soon stop, as Celtic and Rangers will prepare for a fresh battle at the top of Scottish football.
Last season, as the story has been for the last two decades, it was Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic coming out on top and securing Premiership crown number 55.
Celtic are now level on league titles with Rangers, who have secured one title in the last 14 years, and are hoping new manager Russell Martin can turn their fortunes around.
Martin has already experienced life in Glasgow, as a player, for a brief period of time, but as Kris Boyd touched upon, he will now understand the true heat and expectations for a football manager in the west of Scotland.
Kris Boyd’s warning to Russell Martin’s Rangers as they prepare to battle Celtic
The first Glasgow derby of the season is pretty early on, and it will hit everyone’s screens on August 31 at Ibrox.
Speaking on the Warm Up, Boyd warned Martin that he has to head into that game with ‘maximum points’ to his name – the Gers and Celtic play three games before their first meeting of the season.
Boyd spoke, alongside Chris Sutton, about the advantages that will come with that, if that happens, and also the ‘flip side’ of it all.
Chris Sutton: “You say it’s going to take time (with Russell Martin). I think we would all agree that Rangers need patience.
“But there isn’t that patience, so how long, if he doesn’t have a good start, remember Postecoglou’s start at Celtic. Is the pressure going to be on from the start?”
Boyd responded: “I think you are always under pressure, aren’t you?! As soon as you become the manager of Rangers or Celtic. You are always going to be under pressure. Everybody thinks that they are better than you, anyway.
“We will sit here and criticise, but the reality of it is, he is the manager of one of the biggest clubs in the country and the world.
“But at the start of the season, you always think that you want that Glasgow derby at home. Rangers have got that.
“They have got three games before that. They will need to take maximum points going into that game. If they can do that, go to Ibrox with a full house, ask a question of Celtic. Then you never know.
“But the flip side of that is, if you don’t get nine points from your opening three games, then all of a sudden, and Celtic do, you are under pressure right at the start. It’s football. It changes so quickly.”
Celtic and Rangers’ opening three fixtures before the Glasgow derby
Rangers’ competitive season is already underway because they have to deal with Champions League qualifiers.
But the bread and butter starts on August 2 for the Gers, whilst Celtic begin their campaign 24 hours later.
- Celtic’s opening three league matches before the derby: St Mirren, August 3 (H), Aberdeen, August 10 (A), and Livingston, August 23 (H).
- Rangers’ opening three league matches before the derby: Motherwell, August 2 (A), Dundee, August 9 (H), and St Mirren, August 23 (A).
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