Halting history will be a real Ibrox obsession, insists Hughes

JOHN HUGHES can well appreciate Steven Gerrard’s observation about the ‘obsession’ with 10 in a row on both sides of the Old Firm.

As a Celtic player attempting to prevent Rangers racking up titles in the ’90s, Hughes was a key part of a crowd-pleasing Tommy Burns team that met defeat just once through the entire 1995/96 season.

Yet they still conceded the top-flight crown to Rangers that year as Walter Smith’s heroes edged their way to an eighth consecutive championship. Twelve months later, it was nine.

Behind the scenes, Hughes and his team-mates were fixated by the challenge. On travels, in training, during time away, it preyed on their thoughts.

And Hughes imagines Gerrard and his men’s minds to be similarly tuned for halting Celtic’s march.

Hughes (below) recalled: ‘At Celtic, we lost to Rangers just once in the league and we still didn’t win it.

‘You could feel a revolution starting under Tommy Burns after Celtic had won the Scottish Cup in 1995, beating Airdrie.

‘He brought in the likes of Andy Thom, Pierre van Hooijdonk, then later Paolo Di Canio and Jorge Cadete.

‘There is pressure at the Old Firm and it can either empower you or it can drag you under.

‘A lot of boys can’t handle it. To thrive you have to embrace it and play to your best under that — all the top players can do it.

‘Rangers had guys like Andy Goram, Richard Gough, Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup and Ally McCoist — they were winners.

‘We didn’t talk it all up in the dressing room about how good those players were or how desperate we were to stop them winning nine in a row. But when you were travelling or in the hotel, you would speak about it.

‘I travelled with Gordon Marshall and Jackie McNamara and we were all well aware about how important it was to stop Rangers making history.

‘Rangers will know full well about what Celtic are trying to do. They will play things down and say it is all about one game at a time and they won’t talk about it. But it will be there in their minds.’

Hughes is hoping and expecting Celtic to recover from faltering in the festive derby and just about see off the renewed challenge this season.

However, he is full of praise for the way Gerrard has taken it to the champions and Neil Lennon in his second campaign revitalising Rangers.

Hughes said: ‘I have spoken to Scotty Arfield a few times and asked him about Steven’s training and things — and he raves about it. Steven has a level and he is trying to drag his players up there with him. I loved his reaction after the Old Firm game.

‘It showed what it meant to him. He won’t settle for second best. Every week, he wants them at it. He has set a standard and the players are trying to reach that.

‘With my connections I still want Celtic to win it. But you have to admire the job Steven Gerrard has done. As a spectacle — and for the Scottish football brand — it is great.

‘Lenny has embraced the challenge of Rangers. In England, I think Manchester City pushed Liverpool to be better and Rangers have pushed Celtic to be better.

‘That competition means teams have to improve. Celtic will strengthen because he knows if he wants to win the title he needs two or three new players.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it all goes to the wire.’

‘RANGERS WILL PLAY IT DOWN BUT IT WILL BE THERE IN THEIR MINDS’

John Hughes was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.