BROWN WILL BE MISSED
Gerrard believes Celtic captain’s exit will alter feel of Old Firm derbies
SCOTT BROWN’S decision to head to Pittodrie next season and end a 14-year association with Celtic surprised a few observers, with Rangers manager Steven Gerrard among those who raised an eyebrow at the switch.
The Celtic captain will bow out of the club next month, but his final act of resistance will be in trying to put a spoke in the wheel of their rivals across the city, who have cantered to the title this term. Denying the Ibrox side a Scottish Cup to go along with it will be Brown’s desired parting gift before he leaves Parkhead.
Brown used the warm-up in the last game to put an arm around the shoulder of Glen Kamara in the aftermath of the midfielder’s racist abuse from Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela with the small act of compassion not lost on Gerrard. Nor has his longevity at Celtic gone unnoticed by the Rangers manager who has applauded the contribution of the Parkhead captain.
“I think it was a real class touch from Scott, I must say,” said the Ibrox manager. “I think there are things that are bigger than football. When it comes down to life and certain things that happen in life.
“It was a real class touch what he did. He is someone I have got respect for, from a football point of view and what he has achieved in the game. To be that successful and how he has gone about things.
“If I take my Rangers hat off it’s something I respect very much because I know how hard it is to win in football.
“I think the fixture will miss him. Of course it will. Not just him there are many players over the years who have played the part in the derby game from an Old Firm point of view. Many a Rangers player, many a Celtic player. That once they do move on the game will feel different. That’s credit to what they have brought and contributed to that fixture over the years.
“It’s not really important whether we are glad to see that back of him. It is what it is, he has made his decision. He will move to Aberdeen. I was surprised by the decision from a personal point of view, but that’s not important to anyone is it really?
“It is what it is. He still has a couple of Old Firms to play in and our job is to focus on what happens here at Rangers. The decision is made and he will move on to another team and a new challenge.”
Rangers, meanwhile, go into this game with the psychology of the fixture in their favour. Celtic have not won against Rangers since the 2019 League Cup final at Hampden with the Ibrox side holding the upper hand over their rivals.
Gerrard’s side have been dominant in the fixture as they have been throughout the current campaign with the Rangers manager unable to resist enjoying the position of strength of the Ibrox side.
“That’s not the view of John Kennedy though, is it?” he asked. “Listen, it’s not about the past or what has happened in the past, this is a new game and a new challenge. It’s one we are very much looking forward to. I would say the biggest change from the first day to sitting here now is belief within the group.
“We know if we play at our best and find our maximum in terms of performance from a technical and physical point of view, if we give the best version of ourselves, we believe, not just in this fixture, and have confidence, that we can beat anyone, especially at Ibrox.
“I think our level of performance and consistency has backed that view up but it doesn’t guarantee you anything in the future. You’ve got to go and try to find a performance which is going to be good enough. That’s the challenge from now until the final whistle.”
The build-up to the game has been overshadowed by the racism row with UEFA banning Kudela for 10 games for his racist abuse to Kamara. Rangers have been irked that the Finn has also been sanctioned for an alleged assault in the aftermath of the incident, with Gerrard keen to focus more on the things he can control on the pitch.
“We are in a situation where we have to be careful with what we say and what we do,” he said. “There are still ongoing investigations and situations from a police point of view in terms of what happened on the night.
“It’s something we are very much aware of and respect but from my point of view, and the team’s, the focus has very much been on the football and the preparation for Celtic.
“We don’t want to get sidetracked or lose our focus or take our eye off the ball. While we very much understand what is going on and what’s in the media alongside the buildup to this game, for me it’s been key and vital to keep our eye on the football and keep our focus on the game.”