Philippe Clement has claimed that his Rangers team will only get ‘stronger’ the more Celtic fans boo them on Saturday afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys host the second-placed Scottish Premiership side in a match that will have a big say in determining who ends up champions this season.
If Celtic avoid defeat they will be at least three points clear with just two games remaining in the title race. A victory would land a knockout blow on Clement’s outfit.
As many as 60,000 Celtic souls will be screaming and cheering for their side to pick up another strong derby result after two wins and a draw earlier in the campaign. There will be no Rangers fans inside Celtic Park.
Grasping for positives on the situation in his pre-match media conference, Clement claimed his Rangers side can be ‘gladiators’ in such a hostile atmosphere.
Philippe Clement on Celtic Park visit
The Ibrox boss said [Clyde 1]: “It’s going to be a hot atmosphere, for sure. You have to love that if you want to be a player in this town. I know many love to play here. You know as a player the more people boo at you, the more people shout at you, the more people are negative towards you – the more they are afraid their team doesn’t get a result. In a way, I think the more they boo tomorrow, the stronger my team is going to be.
“I think football is a bit like the gladiators of the modern age. In the old times, you had stadiums full of people shouting and booing with their thumbs up or thumbs down. I think we are in that situation. The good thing is people don’t kill us. Maybe verbally, yes, but not in real life. We always have another go in the stadium again.
“That’s how society works now and players need to be ready for that. It’s also exciting because the more passion people have, the more support you have. They have to grab this moment to be really good gladiators tomorrow in the coliseum.”
Celtic’s home advantage can’t be discounted
Clement is putting a brave face on things. He was always going to do that as the Rangers manager. But Celtic’s home advantage is a big factor for this fixture.
It’s less about booing the opposition and more about the lift that fans can give the home side. If Celtic can harness the energy of the crowd and take the game to their opponents, how Rangers are handling the atmosphere is irrelevant.
Rangers failed to capitalise on this advantage in their two home derbies this term. Celtic must take the opportunity given to them here and finish the title race job with a confident display.
