Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has labelled this Celtic side as the ‘toughest challenge’ for all SPFL bosses ahead of his side’s trip to Parkhead.
The Bhoys return to Celtic Park for the first time in 2023 this weekend as they face off against a Killie side who are on a three-game unbeaten run.
Saturday’s game will be the first of a doubleheader between the two teams, with both sides also facing off at Hampden Park a week later.
Last time the two sides faced off, it ended in an emphatic victory for Celtic, who came away 5-0 winners from Rugby Park in the third game of the campaign.
The Hoops have continued that rich vein of domestic form, whilst Kilmarnock are sitting 9th in the league after achieving promotion last season.
Derek McInnes knows the tough test his team face all too well, having travelled to Celtic Park on many occasions with his Aberdeen sides in the past.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game at Paradise, the Killie boss praised Ange Postcoglou’s side, labelling them the ‘toughest challenge’ for all managers in the Scottish Premiership.
He said [Daily Record]: “I think Celtic will provide the toughest challenges for all managers in the league.
“You have got to have so many good things happen to your team. You have got to have good physicality, good fitness and good speed to deal with them.
“You’ve got to look after the ball. Everybody’s challenge when they play Celtic will be do you get after them high or do you sit off? There’s loads of conundrums you have to try and overcome.
“What we want to do, more than the last time we played them is, when the moment comes, we want to have good concentration, defend right.
“Our goalkeeper and defenders need to play well. We will look forward to the challenge. We’re on a decent little run at the minute. I think we’re probably a bit more settled than when we played Celtic last time out.”
McInnes will be hoping for more success against Celtic this weekend than he has achieved in the past.
It would be fair to say that Derek McInnes would be hoping to get one over Celtic this weekend, with the number of problems the Hoops have caused him during his managerial career.
Before the Bhoys’ first fixture against Kilmarnock earlier in the season, we assessed the former Aberdeen manager’s record against Celtic, and we have now won 37 out of 45 matchups.
On Saturday, McInnes will make his first visit to Celtic Park as a manager since March 2021, when his Dons team suffered a 1-0 defeat behind closed doors in February of that year.
Of course, now, Derek McInnes is in charge of a completely different team, and he will be hoping for a fresh start in terms of how he gets on at Celtic Park.
However, he is well aware of how difficult a task it is going to be based off his praise for Ange Postecoglou and his Celtic side.
I am sure he will be putting out a starting 11 he has the most hopes of achieving something in the East End of Glasgow this weekend.
But the Celtic manager will be doing his utmost to make sure that isn’t the case in order to maintain our lead at the top of the league.
In other news, Celtic hero back in contention after two-match absence; has work to do.
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