Ibrox war chest is ‘key for Gerrard’
STEVEN GERRARD is seeking reassurance over the resources available to him before committing to the ‘exciting’ prospect of becoming Rangers manager, according to close friend Danny Murphy. Gerrard is continuing talks with the Ibrox hierarchy, with the club thought to remain confident of confirming his appointment before the end of the week. The Liverpool legend was given a stark illustration of the task he would face when Rangers were hammered 5-0 by Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic on Sunday. Former team-mate
ATOUCH of man-flu was never likely to drain Callum McGregor’s powers once another derby demolition got underway. One of a handful of players who shrugged off the effects of a virus to secure a seventh successive title in style, he now expects Celtic to be in even ruder health next season.
The midfielder scored the final goal of Sunday’s 5-0 hammering of Rangers that emphatically delivered another Premiership crown. For all at Parkhead, the historic target of ten-in-a-row looms ever closer into view.
Their current dominance is clear, but McGregor insists Brendan Rodgers has created a mentality where standing still is unacceptable.
The 24-year-old midfielder believes a squad still flecked with youth can move up another level as they pursue future prizes.
‘We’ve done great so far but if you look at ten-in-a-row then you can get complacent and slip up,’ insisted McGregor. ‘You can’t look too far ahead.
‘The previous week against Hibs was a prime example. Everyone thought we’d turn up and win the league. But if you’re not quite at it then you see what happens.
‘It’s about staying as hungry as you can and coming back in for pre-season to go again and try to get that ten but we know exactly how hard it is.
‘We seem to get better every year with the demands the manager puts on us but we’ve got to keep working. Our strength has always been the squad. You can see boys on the bench who are top talents and that drives the standard up.
‘We’re solely focused on what we’re doing. You hear different things coming out of different clubs but ultimately at Celtic you have to look at yourself.
‘The manager has been relentless since he came in and all the players have taken their performances to another level. He puts demands on us every day — there are no lazy days.
‘There are still levels for us to go. Everyone can always get better and that’s the aim. The manager is always on our case.’
For now, there is a little time to savour what happened on Sunday. The ruthless ease with which they dismantled Rangers again emphasised the immense task that will confront Steven Gerrard if he takes over at Ibrox.
The Liverpool icon would hardly have been comforted by the revelation that some key Parkhead players actually felt a bit under the weather while recording Celtic’s biggest-ever Old Firm league win.
‘I was struggling with the cold beforehand and it takes it right out of you in a game like that, but these are the games you want to play in and the days you live for as a footballer,’ said McGregor, whose goal for 5-0 came with 37 minutes still to play.
‘There was no way I was going to pull out of a day like that — especially with a chance to go and finish the league off.
‘There must have been a wee bug going about. A few of the boys were struggling with the cold, KT (Kieran Tierney) and Tom Rogic.
‘I’m not sure what we would have done if we were all fully fit but it was important after the disappointment of last week when I felt we were waiting on it a wee bit. But credit to Hibs for showing up and they outworked us.
‘When we got to 5-0 you don’t want to let up in the game but Rangers put on another striker and got back into the game a wee bit... but it was comfortable in the end.
‘It was about concentration. We knew exactly how big the game was and the emotion in the game, but we knew if we did the basics right and outworked them and got on top of them, then we’d win the match.
‘We finished the league in style at Tynecastle last season and we knew exactly what was riding on this game for the supporters and ourselves. It was a big performance to mark a special day.’
McGregor has become a familiar scorer on these occasions. For James Forrest, however, a first-ever goal against Rangers was a landmark moment.
It removed the family bragging right that younger brother Alan has enjoyed for the past four years.
The Ayr United player netted against Rangers in a League One game back in 2014, before again scoring in a Scottish Cup defeat to Graeme Murty’s side earlier this season.
‘He has been on at me about it for a wee while now,’ grinned Forrest. ‘I am delighted to score, help the team get three points, keep a clean sheet and score a lot of goals. I am just delighted all round. ‘My brother sent me a message before the game. He said: “Give us a goal today”. I managed to do that. I’m buzzing.’