Celtic know the prize at stake against Rangers this weekend as they bid to claim a first trophy of the campaign in the form of the Premier Sports Cup.
The Bhoys couldn’t have arrived in much better fettle, with a run of 30 unbeaten domestic matches setting the scene for Sunday’s Hampden showpiece.
Brendan Rodgers has only ever lost one Premier Sports Cup match while in charge of Celtic. Unfortunately, that came against Kilmarnock in the second round last season, but his side has come a long way since events at Rugby Park.
A little fuel to ignite the fire has to be viewed as a positive. Callum McGregor has urged Celtic not to let the occasion slip away, painting an internal picture depicting a sense of determination to compensate for the frustration of losing out last year.
With Celtic flying in the Scottish Premiership and also in contention for Champions League qualification, the message now is to keep on guard as the prospect of silverware looms large.
Rangers stand in the way on Sunday afternoon, but Paul Lambert has set out what he believes separates the sides at this moment in time.
Paul Lambert thinks Celtic are ‘miles ahead’ of Rangers
Speaking on talkSPORT, Lambert believes there is a ‘big gulf’ between both sides at the moment, partly off-set via differences in finances, which has led to a divergence in off-field talent.
He explained: “They’re miles ahead on and off the pitch. I mean, I don’t know what it’s like are Rangers, but from the outside looking in there looks to be a big gulf between the two clubs for financial reasons and the way they’re playing on the pitch.
“But you can never disregard Rangers, because I think Celtic need a strong Rangers and vice versa. They definitely need it, for the league’s sake.
“I don’t see who can beat them at the minute. I know the cup final is a little bit different. Rangers, you just don’t know what you’re going to get with them. Even though they’ve had a good couple of results, the cup final is going to be one of them ones where it’s who turns up on a day on that particular game.
“It’s the most unpredictable game I’ve ever played you just never know way it’s going to swing. But I think I think the way Celtic are, the way Brendan’s got them the way the club is, everything is so positive, I mean I’ve been up there a couple of times to see them and you just walk into the place and you feel like they are going to win. That’s the key to them.”
Celtic need to show their cup final mettle again vs Rangers
Cup finals are rarely straightforward equations despite any pre-existing league gap and are seldom decided by more than the odd goal.
Mixing together a combination of added jeopardy and a somewhat tighter approach than in league affairs, clashes against Rangers at Hampden have went in the Bhoys’ favour, but not by a landslide if recent history is to be consulted.
In the last three showpiece matches between the pair, Celtic have won each by a narrow margin in terms of scoreline, lending credence to the point.
Don’t be surprised if Sunday’s match takes a similar form. However, as long as the Bhoys can show their usual cup final spirit and determination, they will be confident of claiming the first trophy on offer this term.
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