‘Impossible for Rangers - but you never know!’
● Hartley helped Celtic close massive points gap 11 years ago but doubts if Ibrox men can do it
0 Anguish for Rangers manager Walter Smith, captain Barry Ferguson, right, and midfielder Charlie Adam following the final whistle at Pittodrie on the final day of the 2007-08 season. A 2-0 defeat by Aberdeen meant that a seven-point lead with seven matches remaining had disappeared and the l
PAUL HARTLEY
have to go there for the win.”
Hartley has fond memories of Celtic’s pivotal back-to-back victories over Rangers in 2008 which provided the momentum for their late charge to the title. The former Scotland midfielder recalls an early declaration of intent in the first contest, a 2-1 win secured by Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s stoppage-time goal, as a significant turning point.
“Barry Robson set the tone in the first minute with a sharp elbow on Christian Dailly, then I had a strong tackle on Lee Mcculloch,” he said.
“That’s what sets you up in those games – it’s not a brilliant piece of skill or whatever. That first challenge can really set the tone for who goes on to win it.
“So if Rangers are going to have any chance, they might have to do that early on Sunday. That’s what they did in the last game at Ibrox, they were on the front foot right away. You could see Celtic were spooked by how Rangers started.
“Andyhallidaywentinwitha great tackle in the first minute or so. All he did was knock the ball out for a throw-in but it set
the tone and gave everyone in the Rangers team and support a lift.”
Sunday will be a return to Old Firm combat for Hartley’s former team-mate Neil Lennon, whose hopes of being named permanent Celtic manager this summer could depend on whether he completes the groundwork laid by Brendan Rodgers for a third consecutive domestic treble.
“He is coming into the job after a manager who has won seven consecutive trophies, had a certain style of football in how Celtic won games and a different personality in how he conducted himself in the job,” added Hartley.
“So Neil is now under the different pressure of knowing he can’t afford to let this slip. That would be a disaster for him if Celtic lost the title.
“He knows he’s under pressure not only to win the title, but to win the treble again. He will give himself a great opportunity of getting the job if he does that. But I think he will just be focusing on the game on Sunday and then seeing where it takes him.
“He’s someone who’s been there as a player, coach and a
manager – he knows what the Old Firm game is all about.
“Neil gives it everything – you saw his reaction when they got that stoppage-time winner at Dundee the other week. He was running to the corner flag and I hate to think what he’d do if Celtic get a lastminute goal on Sunday – you could see the aeroplane being done again!
“However, there’s nothing wrong with that. Neil’s a passionate person and he knows what this match means – he also knows that losing it is the big thing.
“As a player, he was a leader
and a good captain for the Old Firm games. He was strong and very emotional in the dressing room and if you weren’t doing your job properly he’d let you know all about it.
“When Celtic lost at Ibrox in December, that was probably the first time in a couple of years this group of players had that amount of stick for a performance in the league. Rightly so, because Rangers were by far the better team and it could have been a lot more than 1-0.
“So Celtic will want to try to get one over Rangers in terms of their performance level but, most importantly, just in winning the game.”
● Paul Hartley was speaking at a William Hill Foundation media event for the Scottish FA Mental Health and Wellbeing League which runs until the final at Lesser Hampden on 25 May.
“They need to beat Celtic twice and hope Celtic also slip up against somebody else. I can’t see Celtic losing three or four of their matches”
“All Rangers can do is focus on Sunday. Just win the next game, don’t try to think about winning five or six on the bounce or whatever”