MURTY HAS TO PINCH HIMSELF
Stand-in set for his Old Firm moment
EVEN up until yesterday morning, he viewed his prospects as slim. Tens of thousands dream of leading Rangers into an Old Firm clash. But most duly awake from their fevered slumbers.
When confirmation came to Graeme Murty that he will, indeed, take charge of the side for a sixth and final time — on this occasion at Celtic Park — steely professionalism coursed through his veins before briefly giving way to childlike wonder.
A veteran of 17 years in the English game, the 42-year-old knows the futility in letting one’s imagination run riot — especially when the task at hand is arduous in the extreme.
To pretend that tomorrow is somehow just another day at the office would be absurd. He visited Old Trafford, the Emirates and the like while at Reading, but that was as a player rather than a manager.
Crossing the Glasgow divide would be an extraordinary experience for anyone. For someone who believed he had come to the city to coach kids, it threatens to move beyond surreal.
‘Sunday is going to be a unique moment in my life,’ said Murty. ‘I can’t say I’m looking forward to enjoying the game, because I won’t. But when I look back on it, I will have a little smile and think I’m a very, very fortunate person to get that opportunity.
‘There aren’t many people who can say they’ve stood on the sidelines at an Old Firm game.
‘It’s really going to be one stellar experience for me.
‘I have no doubt it’s going to be difficult. But I can’t wait to see what everything is about. I’ve been looking at this game since I was a kid. I’ve watched it every time it was on TV. Now I just can’t wait to experience it.
‘I started with the footballer’s mindset of: “I wonder what it’s like to play in?” I’d talk to people in Scotland squads and they’d rave about it.
‘Now I have the opportunity to experience it first-hand.
‘I think it will be awe-inspiring, a watershed moment in my career. I’m going to try to be very careful that I’m not blown away by it. This is unique in all of football.
‘But I need to focus on giving the players what they need.’
That comprises a game-plan to thwart Celtic and the belief to properly execute it.
A Rangers’ victory would, of course, only delay the inevitability of Celtic winning the title. A futile, but welcome, act of defiance from the team for their fans.
For the club as whole, however, Murty believes the most unlikely of triumphs might just be the start of something.
‘If we haven’t got belief there’s no point in us turning up,’ he said.
‘The players have to feel they’re going to give it a right good go with the plan and execute it with quality. If we do that, we can get a positive outcome.
‘You have to be clinical in both boxes. Limit their differencemakers in the areas in which they are allowed to play. And then you have to put into effect what you are good at.’
In Brendan Rodgers, he has a familiar adversary. The Irishman joined Reading as a youth coach as Murty was establishing himself in the first team. Their interactions were minimal but Murty detected a man with a bright future.
‘There was always an indication he was a forward-thinking, progressive coach,’ he said.
‘It was no surprise he went from Reading to Chelsea and to see him in management. He’s really clear in his methodology and philosophy. I’m not surprised at how he’s progressed.’
Rodgers’ transformation of Celtic has been startling. Some 34 domestic games have come and gone since his appointment without defeat.
Identifying the dangers posed by Moussa Dembele, Scott Sinclair and company is the easy part. Nullifying them has been a task akin to nailing jelly to a wall.
‘It’s going to be very difficult,’ said Murty. ‘We’ve looked at how they go about winning games.
‘Brendan’s team is designed to go and win football matches. So that’s a unique challenge and a great one for me.’
In Rodgers’ estimation, St Mirren came as close as anyone to unearthing the elusive formula in last week’s Scottish Cup tie. Consider careful notes to have been taken by Murty.
‘I saw a fantastic structure and a togetherness,’ said Murty. ‘They deserve massive credit for the way they approached the game.
‘We still need to have that cohesiveness and spirit running throughout the team if we are going to be successful.’
There is but one certainty. Ninety-minutes will flash past Murty’s eyes before slowly soaking into his memory.
As important as the task of rearing the next generation of players may be, a return to the day job may prove the mother of all comedowns.
‘It’s been stressful, enough to make me go grey,’ he smiled.
‘I’ve not sat in the chair yet. It’s not mine, to be honest. It’s part of the reason I haven’t worn a suit as yet on the sidelines.
‘When you look at a list of the people who have managed this football club, you can see why it needs a special person at the helm to make sure we move forward.’