 It doesn't really matter what the points tally is or relative league position when Celtic meet Rangers as the game is always keenly anticipated. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is expecting another tough encounter from the Ibrox side in Sunday’s Glasgow derby. Sitting at the top of the table, Celtic have 33-point lead over their old rivals, who are currently third in the league. The league leaders have also won all three games against Rangers this season, starting with a 5-1 home league win back in September, 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final at Hampden, before running out 2-1 winners at Ibrox on Hogmanay. Rodgers will be setting his squad the target of emulating those performances as they aim to clock up their 23rd successive league win and move within touching distance of a sixth consecutive title. He said: "It will be another tough game like all our games are. The Celtic-Rangers games I have been involved in so far have been fantastic games. We have played well in the three games and got the result. We always anticipate a tough game and I’m sure this one will be no different. I have really enjoyed them. I have enjoyed all the games up here managing Celtic but, of course, the Celtic-Rangers games are well-renowned throughout the world as one of the great derby games, if not the greatest derby game. It’s a really intense affair, the supporters are very passionate and the Celtic Park game was a great start, being the first one for us. If we can play to that level and play to how we have been for most of the season then we hope that can get us a result." Rodgers went on: "The (derby) games we have played in, we have deserved to win them. The numbers in our League Cup semi-final game at Hampden, if you are talking about statistics, were better than the 5-1 game. We played really well at Ibrox, scored two goals and could have had a few more. But what this team has shown as we have gone through the season is that they can win all types of games. We can win in a footballing game, we can win a game where it’s a battle, we can win games where teams sit in and defend deep – we will find a way to get through - and if the game is stretched then we have the pace and power in the team to exploit it. Last week, when we weren’t any near to our level in the first half, we showed in the second half that we could then turn the screw and put in a better performance and that then put us through the gears a bit better. It’s a team that’s improving all the time and, while there are still lots of improvements to make, we have shown, whether it’s Rangers or whoever the opponent is domestically, that we have found answers. It’s through hard work and the players are working very hard to earn it." James Forrest, who has been in good form this season, has handed Rodgers a boost by returning to full training this week after two weeks on the sidelines. The manager added: "He is fine. He has trained this week and has been very good. James has been in great form and he hasn’t been out for too long for his fitness levels to drop, and he has looked very good in training. It’s great for him to be back. Tom Rogic is back out on the training field but he is still three or four weeks away. He is looking really good but he is still a little bit of time away. Everyone else is fine." |
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