Brendan Rodgers: I always enjoy the whole derby occasion

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Celtic F.C.

·10 May 2024

Brendan Rodgers: I always enjoy the whole derby occasion

Brendan Rodgers has an impressive record in the Glasgow derby. In 16 previous games, he has won 12, drawn three and lost just once.

However, for the Celtic manager, the focus for him is always on the next game, and so whatever has gone before in games against Rangers will have no bearing on how he approaches this Saturday’s clash at Celtic Park.

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“The whole occasion – the build-up to the game, the intensity in the stadium, and just the overall emotion around them are absolutely fantastic,” Brendan Rodgers said.

“It’s something that I’ve always enjoyed, no matter what stadium it’s at – Celtic Park, Ibrox or Hampden – they’re great games to be involved in.

'I go into every game, and people will reference the record, but the mindset is to go in and forget about what has happened before.'

"You can’t rely on that. It’s the preparation, it’s the calmness of the team.

“The build-up to the games are relaxed but focused, and, of course, then you have to perform, and the players, over both my periods here, have performed so well in these games.

“So, like I said after the last game, I’m really looking forward to this game. This is a game with 60,000 supporters, the pitch will be magnificent, and it’s a chance for us to perform.”

This season, Celtic have enjoyed two wins and a draw against their city rivals, including a 2-1 home win at the end of December, while the most recent meeting last month at Ibrox finished 3-3.

With just three league games remaining, the Hoops are three points clear at the top of the Premiership table, and with a superior goal difference, and the Celtic manager knows that a victory on Saturday over Rangers will be his team in a very strong position to retain the title.

“Going into every season and every competition, you always expect to have competitors,” he said, “and, of course, Rangers normally being the closest ones.

“But the focus primarily has been on ourselves, so however which way we started the season, how we were in the middle, our focus has been on ourselves and getting to a level that I would expect us to be at.

“We’ve had seven out of eight wins, and the draw we had was still a very good performance at Ibrox, so we arrive into the game in a good feeling.

“Rangers have been close a lot of the way through the season, but that’s what you want – you want competition and that hopefully brings the best out of you.

“I’ve loved these fixtures, it was the ones I really looked forward to when I was up here the first time, and for me, the record is great but it’s all about building and building more memories and great occasions in this game.

'It’s a great opportunity. That’s what stands in front of us – we have that opportunity to do that, but nothing will be won.'

“We need to go and perform well, we need to work hard, we need to be intense and we need to ensure our game is at a good level.

“We will have an amazing support which will just take us through the game and that wave of emotion, and hopefully we can entertain the supporters as well on the field.

“But primarily, the job is to try and get the three points and if we can do that, it puts us in a brilliant position with two games to go.”