BOAST BUSTER
Rodgers said it was time for fun but he’s got his work cut out to keep a lid on sky-high expectations as some Celts take victory for granted
FUN. (Noun): enjoyment, amusement or light-hearted pleasure.
Brendan Rodgers lobbed in the three-letter word last weekend to spark another one of those silly Old Firm phoney wars, but in reality none of the definitions above can be used to describe the build-up to the derby.
Instead, try Torture. (Noun): to cause great suffering or anxiety. No one has had fun this week. Some Celtic fans might think they have by getting their gloating in early on social media.
But ask some of their pals about that kind of behaviour – the ones with the haunted expressions, who know anything can happen in these games and don’t dare count their chickens.
A fair chunk of supporters – on both sides – do seem to think today’s showdown is a foregone conclusion.
Celtic have their main men fit again and are flying while Rangers have been limping along and are serial bottle merchants in these big games.
But it is a dangerous attitude that Hoops boss Rodgers will have spent all week trying to keep out of his dressing room.
Celtic should have the stronger side walking out this lunchtime. Man for man they have players who have a higher ceiling than their opposite numbers.
Yet, if some of those guys drop their standards, Rangers have players who can take full advantage.
The Hoops simply cannot afford to underestimate their rivals, despite the cockiness of some punters.
Rodgers won’t, that’s for sure. What has been funny this week is the reaction to his fun talk. The Celtic manager is more than capable of dropping in little mind games along the way.
He’s been doing it pretty much all season – but with his own team.
Rodgers has used every trick in the book to keep his side on the title path.
At times the Irishman has been critical of individual players in public, with even the likes of Reo Hatate called out and left out in the early days.
There’s been a siege mentality adopted for months, talk about ‘narratives’ and perceived criticism among the support.
The media – always a nice, soft target to get fans on board – have copped it on occasions for questioning signings and pointing out that some of the performances haven’t been so clever.
There’s also been a recent mobilisation of the support, a call to arms, pleas for unity and a desire to come together for the greater good.
It’s all pretty much worked. Yet last weekend’s fun line probably wasn’t actually a Rodgers coded message to wind up their chums across the city.
It sounded as though he meant more like everyone in the country would get wrapped up in the crazy fever surrounding an Old Firm game.
He wasn’t suggesting Celtic are going to play with Rangers like a soft toy.
But Gers boss Philippe Clement jumped on it, as he’s attempting mind games of his own at Ibrox.
The Belgian knows a huge clearout is on the way in the summer but he needs to get every ounce out of this group until then.
He is four games away from a Treble but this one is last chance saloon for the main prize.
Clement is lighting fires under his players but he’s up against a guy who can do the same thing – and who knows how to win this fixture.
Rodgers’ derby record is incredible, with just one defeat and three draws in 16 games. His 75 per cent win ratio as boss is the best in Old Firm history.
That is because he doesn’t take this game for granted – regardless of what is going on across the city.
Rodgers has been all smiles recently, looking relaxed and cracking jokes.
No one should be fooled, though. He is deadly serious behind the scenes.
This season has been about patching up and short-term fixes, but right now his squad is in a stronger shape than at any point since last August.
The team should pick itself – with Daizen Maeda starting along with James Forrest – and it should have allowed the Hoops coaching staff to spend this week working on the areas where the game will be won.
Like at set-pieces. Corner kicks have been like Kryptonite at times and Celts should have been doing overtime shifts to make sure they can deal with James Tavernier’s dead-ball deliveries.
Rodgers’ men are unlikely to sit in and try to secure the point that would all but nail down the title.
A clean sheet doesn’t sound like fun, but it gets the job done.
Hoops boss wasn’t suggesting Celtic are going to play with Rangers like they would a soft toy