Celtic right-back Josip Juranovic has been cranking up the fighting talk ahead of tonight’s Glasgow derby clash against Rangers at Parkhead.
This could be a landmark night in the Ange Postecoglou era. 3 points for the Hoops and we will overtake our city rivals in the Premiership and make it 5 wins out of 5 in 2022. Defeat, however, would leave us feeling as if we’re back to the drawing board.
It could be the biggest day in Postecoglou’s Celtic career in truth. That’s the size of the task tonight and the magnitude of which the result will hold.
Celtic haven’t won this fixture for over 2 years in what’s become a disappointing barren spell. But Juranovic is looking ahead with determination as he stated that the Hoops have a host of players who can hurt the Ibrox club.
As quoted by the Scottish Sun, the Croatian international said: “You cannot say we played bad when we played against them in my first game. It was a great game from us because we had four chances. I don’t think they had one. They scored from a corner kick. Then we were only playing maybe two weeks together.
“Now, it’s a little longer and we know each other. It will be a totally different game. We are very strong. We are a family on and off the pitch. Team spirit is the most important thing. I’m really happy at Celtic. It’s five months, but I have a feeling that I am here maybe three or four years.
“That’s just two [Jota and Reo Hatate]. We have Carl Starfelt, then Cameron, Abada, Giakoumakis and Kyogo. We have so many players who can damage them. In my mind, I want from the first minute to the last minute that I win the game. That’s my attitude. Everybody here thinks like that and because of that we are playing for Celtic.”
Josip Juranovic ready for Rangers challenge; already gets what Celtic means
These comments from Juranovic are superb and exactly what the supporters want to hear from their new signings.
Even if Juranovic wasn’t steeped in Celtic tradition growing up, he instantly gets what it means to play for this football club. He really does come across as a supporter who’s being given the opportunity to tackle tonight’s derby.
He also isn’t wrong about the derby match back in August. Celtic had a host of opportunities to bury Rangers and simply didn’t take them. Odsonne Edouard and Kyogo Furuhashi should’ve had 2 or 3 between them. Rangers, on the other hand, created next to nothing outside of their corner-kick goal.
Lessons to be learned for sure, but there’s almost a nice arrogance here from Josip. A confidence that we need to have heading into this game. At least from the players.
The names he’s mentioned above are also pertinent. The likes of Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers can hurt Rangers tonight in their own way. It’s not just about the players in the final third. Everyone will need to play their part if we’re to get this done tonight.
The confidence is certainly sky-high. That’s all we can ask for heading into the game.
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