You absolutely have to enjoy this, although I do understand the intensity

MARK WARBURTON is well aware that some have already delivered their judgments. He is hearing his team have no chance at Celtic Park tomorrow. That they are not credible title challengers. That his summer signings are failing to deliver. That Rangers may have regressed since that Old Firm win in April’s Scottish Cup semi-final. Warburton understands the environment in which he operates. After 15 months in Glasgow, he knows reactions can be triggered quicker than a gunslinger’s revolver.

Even then, he still shakes his head. He points to a mere four Premiership games having been played. And the ongoing process of integrating 11 new players.

Warburton wouldn’t argue that the performances to date, while unbeaten, have been underwhelming. Rangers have only played in patches.

Doing the same at Parkhead would allow a Celtic side reinvigorated by Brendan Rodgers to plunder through the gaps. That is one reason why bookmakers price the Ibrox outfit as such significant outsiders.

The pressure to get it right is obvious. Living down to predictions of a hefty defeat would inevitably bring fresh questions about Warburton and those under his command.

The 54-year-old is adamant, however, that Rangers will approach the challenge without trepidation.

He expects his players to savour every moment as they pursue a result with transformative possibilities.

‘What you have to say is: “Enjoy it”,’ he insisted. ‘You absolutely have to enjoy this. We understand all the pressures and the intensity of the build-up.

‘But you can turn around in 20 years’ time, look back and say I was involved in an Old Firm game.’

A 7-0 friendly win over Linfield in Belfast last weekend kept Rangers ticking over. It also provided a chance to iron out some of the flaws witnessed in their last competitive outing, a 1-1 draw at Rugby Park.

‘I drove home after the Kilmarnock game, listened to talkSPORT and they said: “Rangers remain unbeaten, positive start to the season, gelling in new players”,’ recalled Warburton. ‘It sounded very positive.

‘I turned on the Scottish radio the following night, I won’t say which one it was, and it might as well have said: “Sell all your players and walk back to England”. It was chalk and cheese.

‘We are four games in, we have 11 new players in and you have to gel them in. We have got players who have come from different formations, different systems, different ball possession. The demands placed on them are significant.

‘I have never asked for sympathy at all. I was asked by someone if my position was tenable after three games in. Wow. That’s the nature of it.

‘You can say that Scottish football is impatient. Scottish football needs to have some common sense as well if that is the case.

‘The other one was that if we lose on Saturday, that is it, the season is over. If you lose at Celtic, the season is over.

‘I won’t name the individual. You just look at people and go: “Really?”. We understand the expectation and players are coming up and they understand the responsibility.’

But what gives Warburton confidence that they can now produce the complete 90-minute performance likely required at Celtic Park?

‘Just watching them in training, the questions they ask in analysis, the intensity and commitment they show day in and day out,’ he replied.

‘You can say every club could say the same about their players. But I watch them. And I know how hungry they are. We are not far away.

‘We are getting better every day. The more we can work together and bed in players and principles, the better we will be.

‘I hope very much that every game we see an improvement. It would be great to see a positive 90-minute display.’

Rangers stood tall for 120 minutes at Hampden last season to hasten Ronny Deila’s departure.

In doing so, however, it opened the way for Rodgers to present a more formidable foe.

Warburton headed the Watford academy at the time the Celtic manager was in charge at Vicarage Road.

Despite the obvious stresses now upon both, he is convinced cordial relations will be retained.

‘Absolutely,’ said Warburton. ‘We are not going to be pictured having a cosy pint of Guinness in a pub in Byres Road. That is not going to happen.

‘But there is the professional and there is the personal. The fact is this is a professional business we are in. After the result, whatever happens, it is the right thing to do to go and have a drink after a game of football. If you lose a game of football, go and have a drink. If you win a game of football, go and have a drink.’

While it is early days, the comparison between Celtic under Rodgers and Deila already looks stark.

‘I don’t want to be rude to any previous managers,’ insisted Warburton. ‘Every team is different and every set-up is different.

‘I said at the time that Brendan would come in with a level of organisation and be given the backing to go and get two, three or four players that he wanted to go and get. That has proven to be the case.

‘We know they will be organised, they will be attack-minded and look to penetrate and impose themselves on the game. That is what they look to do, but so do we. Hopefully, it is a good game of football.’

I was asked if my position was tenable three games in. Wow