Rangers turmoil won’t distract Celtic — Rodgers
GLASGOW: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers insists the uncertainty at bitter rivals Rangers will not affect them in Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Parkhead.
Rangers have been in turmoil on and off the pitch in recent weeks since Mark Warburton and his backroom team departed Ibrox last month. Graeme Murty was placed in interim charge and has recorded three wins and two defeats in his five games.
The Under-20s coach is likely to continue in the dugout for the fourth Old Firm derby of the season.
That is despite Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha looking set to take the job permanently after being granted permission from Qatari club Al- Gharafa to join Rangers.
However, Rodgers believes the Rangers players will put the managerial situation to the back of their minds and will be concentrating on trying to inflict a first domestic defeat of the season on Celtic.
“The players are professional enough to get on with it,” Rodgers said. “Graeme’s done an excellent job. It’s not an easy situation when you’re working with the younger players and then you’ve got to step into the position when the manager goes.
“I’m sure whatever way it works out for him, he’ll have benefited from it.”
Celtic are 33 points ahead of third-placed Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership and have won all three Old Firm encounters this term, including a 5-1 league victory at Celtic Park in their first meeting of the season.
Another win would put them on the verge of securing a sixth successive title win and hurt their rivals chances of catching Aberdeen in second spot. — AFP