Gers have new team so we must prove ourselves again
Brendan Rodgers has warned his Celtic stars they need to prove their dominance all over again against a new Rangers.
The Hoops boss has owned the Old Firm since his arrival two summers ago, seeing off three managers with an unbeaten 11-game record, including nine wins and 30 goals blasted past their rivals.
However, as he prepared for his first dugout duel with his old Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, he insists that can’t be allowed to become a superiority complex for his squad.
Rodgers said: “Time will tell if we set the tone the way we have in the first game the past two seasons. I never go into any of these games thinking it’s going to be easy. Because it doesn’t matter how a team is doing, the other one can come in with a result, such is the drama and the passion around these games.
“So I’ve always focused on getting ready for a tough game and trying to ensure that we keep a calmness. There’s a confidence factor, of course there is, but it’s about not being complacent, about working hard and doing the basics.
“OK, half of the players are still there who have been involved in these games but there are a good five or so who weren’t in their team and won’t have lived it before. So for me, it’s a new game. What we’ve done before doesn’t really matter.”
In his autobiography, Gerrard accused Rodgers of being over-confident, particularly in the game that ended up costing Liverpool the Premier League title against Chelsea.
However, the Celtic boss doesn’t buy that there’s an extra edge to this game because of it.
He said: “We see the narrative and it goes back to us working together at Liverpool.
“But I’ve never really gone with all that because you can be what you want.
“The comments? They’re Steven’s feelings, aren’t they?
“I’m no different. I’m always the same going into games. One thing, I’m not fearful of any game. But that’s what he thought, there is no right or wrong in it. There was certainly no overconfidence from my perspective though.”