Why Celtic must win at Ibrox – “Dead-rubbers, there is no such thing,” Peter Grant

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The Celtic Star

·2 maggio 2025

Why Celtic must win at Ibrox – “Dead-rubbers, there is no such thing,” Peter Grant

Former Celtic hero Peter Grant admits the thought of losing to theRangers in the season’s final derby would keep him awake all summer…

Nicolas Kuhn battles for possession with Jefte during the Scottish Premiership match between theRangers and Celtic at Ibrox on January 02, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Grant firmly believes every derby matters, urging Brendan Rodgers’ side to give everything at Ibrox and make amends for back-to-back losses to Barry Ferguson’s men.

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Celtic falling short at Ibrox would be a bitter pill to swallow

He’s made it clear to the current squad that falling short at Ibrox would be a bitter pill to swallow, stressing exactly what’s at stake before the short journey across Glasgow.

Speaking to Go Radio Football Show, Grant said: “Let me tell you this. I wouldn’t be able to sleep right through the summer if you lose that one. It is as much as that. It is the last one of the season, the last thing you want to be going into any break is after losing a Celtic theRangers match. For either team. I don’t care who you are.

Celtic captain Callum McGregor and Danilo Pereira da Silva of Rangers during the Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox. theRangers v Celtic, photo O’Rourke/Shutterstock

“That’s how important it is to Celtic. Celtic have not played particularly well in the last three. Even though we won the final. I didn’t think we played particularly well, theRangers did. The next two we haven’t played well and lost convincingly.

Gut-wrenching if Celtic lose

“It doesn’t matter if you have won the league or not. You have to try and win this game and please believe me, it will be gut-wrenching if you don’t.”

When questioned whether three consecutive losses to theRangers would overshadow a Celtic’s title triumph, he responded: “Absolutely, what are you going to hear from theRangers fans all the time? I know you are going to say we won the league and hopefully won the Scottish Cup and all this.

Greg Taylor of Celtic and Mohamed Diomande of theRangers during the Scottish Premiership match at Ibrox Stadium, 2 January 2025. Photo O’ Rourke//Shutterstock

“But the bottom line is you want to make sure you beat your rivals and there is not a better feeling when you do that.” He continued: “I can guarantee you one of the targets would be to beat theRangers. 100 per cent. If I was sitting in that dressing room that would be my biggest target at this moment in time.

“Dead-rubbers, there is no such thing”

“Dead-rubbers, there is no such thing. That never even comes into the vocabulary that word. You have to go out and prove it all the time. That is what winners do. Going into this game, you have to win it.”

A reminder, Celtic head to Ibrox already crowned champions, following their commanding 5-0 victory over Dundee United last weekend. Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah each netted twice in the five-goal rout, with a Ryan Strain own goal adding to Celtic’s tally.

Celtic title celebrations. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).

Mind the Gap

Rodgers’ side are chasing a Treble, with four league matches remaining before their Scottish Cup Final showdown against Aberdeen at Hampden at the end of the month. A win on Sunday would see Celtic open up a 20 points gap on their nearest rivals.

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