The Scotsman

Rangers win would be good for the game, says Souness

- By ANGUS WRIGHT

Graeme Souness believes a Rangers victory over Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday would be “good for Scottish football”.

A home win would bring Graeme Murty’s side to within three points of their greatest rivals and spark a genuine title race.

For this reason, Souness believes it is the biggest game between the two sides in recent years.

Celtic remain overwhelmi­ng favourites to clinch their seventh consecutiv­e league championsh­ip and still have a game in hand over Rangers. But Brendan Rodgers’ side have shown signs of vulnerabil­ity this season, losing in the Premiershi­p to both Hearts and Kilmarnock.

Asked if he thought it is the most important Old Firm game in recent years, former Rangers manager Souness told Sky Sports News: “Yeah I think so.

“Rangers are a wee bit closer and that’s good for Scottish football, it’s certainly good for Rangers.

“Celtic are still a bit in front but I think they’ve never been closer to them. This weekend will tell us a great deal.

“Obviously as an ex-rangers man, I want that to happen. I think it would be good for Scottish football to give us a competitio­n again so it’s not a one-horse race.”

Souness, who was in Scotland to promote a charity football match in aid of the St Andrews Hospice in Lanarkshir­e, still considers the Glasgow clash to be the biggest derby he has experience­d in a career as player and manager which included a long successful time with Liverpool as well as a spell managing in Turkey with Galatasara­y.

“I’ve been involved in some big derbies. Liverpool-everton, Liverpool-man U, Fenerbahce-galatasara­y, but this is the biggest one,” Souness said. “For Rangers and Celtic fans, you don’t become one, you’re born one.”

 ??  ?? 0 Graeme Souness: Title race.
0 Graeme Souness: Title race.

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