Saturday’s match between Celtic and Rangers at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final does its own talking. No hype is needed.
It’s the first meeting between the two sides in the final of this tournament for 22 years and the first derby match with both sets of supporters inside the ground this season.
If you’re anything like me, you’re feeling the usual – and at times conflicting – combination of excitement, confidence and nerves that only this kind of fixture throws up.
Win or lose, there’s every chance this is a final for the ages that will be remembered for a long time.
Celtic are understandably favourites having recently become champions in a rich vein of form and having not been beaten in the derby this season.
Callum McGregor on Celtic’s test vs Rangers
Captain Callum McGregor says his teammates are full of confidence as a result and that the last ten days have put the squad in a ‘nice place’ for this one.
Previewing the match, the midfielder said [Celtic TV]: “To be honest, just with the nature of the season and how it goes, if you don’t pick up the first trophy then a lot of your work goes unnoticed until the last 10 days of the season. Maybe externally now everybody’s thinking it’s not been too bad!
“You’ve got to battle and leagues are won over 10 or 11 months with really hard work and graft and perseverance and resilience. We’ve put ourselves in a good position. We go into the game at the weekend full of confidence. We understand the challenge. It will be a massive game. Both teams are really good teams.
“We understand where we are and we have to give everything to the game. In cup finals, you need a bit of luck and you need things to go your way on the day. We’ve got a good chance and we’ll turn up full of confidence off the back of securing the league.
“For us, we’ve always been confident and the last sort of 10 days have put us in a nice place and hopefully, we can finish with a double this weekend.”
Celtic focused on success, not emotions
The match also serves as Joe Hart’s final one at Celtic and indeed his entire professional career. His teammates will understandably be sad to wave him goodbye but McGregor has insisted all that kind of emotion will be parked until after the full-time whistle.
The captain wants his players to stay focused on the task, stating: “We understand that is there in the background. We want to send him away in a positive light with a double which would be brilliant for him to finish his career.
“Between now and then we just focus on the game, ourselves and the team which is the most important thing. If we do all of that and have a successful day then Joe will get his happy ending. For me and the players, we are just concentrating on the game.”
No distractions, it seems. Celtic’s win-at-all-costs mentality is tipped to shine through again. If they show their true quality and take the game to Rangers, there’s every chance of a double and a fairytale day at the national stadium.