Gordon Strachan has admitted he never hated Rangers during his four years as Celtic manager.
The former Hoops boss was asked directly whether he genuinely hated the Ibrox club and his answer was not what some supporters may have expected.
Strachan faced the Ibrox club 18 times during his Celtic tenure winning eight, drawing three and losing seven.
Asked whether he genuinely hated Rangers during his time in charge at Parkhead, the former Hoops boss delivered an answer that cuts against the stereotype often attached to the Glasgow Derby.
Far from showing a lack of understanding, it actually revealed why he was so successful at Celtic.
What did you make of Gordon Strachan’s reign as Celtic manager?
Celtic never needed Gordon Strachan to hate Rangers
During an interview, Strachan was asked: “As a manager of Celtic do you genuinely hate Rangers?”
His response was clear as the former Celtic boss said, “No, I don’t. I want to beat them badly, but that’s never been a word in my vocabulary, hate.”
When asked whether he passed those feelings on to his players, Strachan doubled down.
“Absolutely not. You can explain the consequences of getting beat, I work in that way, the consequences of getting beat is horrific, but winning is incredible.”
That is not the answer of someone who failed to understand the fixture. It is the answer of a manager who understood exactly where the focus should be.
Celtic success mattered more to Strachan than Rangers hatred
Strachan’s comments fit with views he expressed during his managerial career. He once explained that he did not fear anybody but did fear getting beaten.
That mindset is visible in his latest remarks. The emphasis was never on hatred. It was on responsibility, pressure and the consequences of failure.
Strachan’s answer showed where his priorities were. The objective was not to fuel emotion. It was to make sure Celtic won.
Celtic results backed up Gordon Strachan’s approach
Strachan managed Celtic between 2005 and 2009 and delivered an impressive haul of silverware.
During that period, Celtic won three consecutive league titles, one Scottish Cup and two League Cups. He also took the club into the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time ever.
Supporters are entitled to their own feelings about Rangers. Managers, however, are judged on results.
Strachan’s record suggests his approach worked. He understood the importance of winning these matches without believing hatred was necessary.
Celtic’s Gordon Strachan always prioritised winning
Football rivalry and hatred are not the same thing. Strachan’s comments highlight that distinction from a manager’s perspective.
He wanted to beat Rangers badly. Nobody could question that. What he rejected was the idea that hatred was necessary to drive success.
The evidence is sitting in Celtic’s trophy cabinet. Strachan delivered six major honours during his four years in charge and did so by focusing on standards, pressure and results rather than emotion.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
