Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side will play host to Graeme Murty’s Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday.
Celtic legend Stiliyan Petrov criticised Rangers for the lack of fight that they displayed during the last Old Firm game, when speaking exclusively to the Scottish Herald.
The Gers were outclassed by the Hoops in the Scottish Cup semi final 10 days ago, but perhaps more worryingly, they were totally outfought as well.
Graeme Murty’s men have undoubtedly made inroads into closing the gap on Brendan Rodgers’ side this season, but they are still a long way from toppling their bitter rivals.
The Light Blues have not won an Old Firm game over 90 minutes since March 2012, and that is quite simply not good enough for a club with their expectations.
Petrov, who made 311 appearances for the Hoops, shared how surprised he was to see Rangers’ total lack of fight during the last Old Firm clash, when speaking exclusively to the Scottish Herald:
“I watched the Scottish Cup semi-final on television and while I was happy for Celtic, I was disappointed with the quality of the football, to be honest,” he said. Usually when you build up to a Celtic v Rangers game, you know what to expect. In the previous couple games, Rangers had showed a bit more desire, fight and urgency. But in the semi-final, there was nothing. It was so flat and it is really a shame to see Rangers going that way. We have all talked about Rangers closing the gap, but they didn’t show any sign of it.”
Murty’s side will have to show more quality and more commitment if they are to have any chance of beating Rodgers’ men on Sunday, and if they do manage to win, they will cut the gap on Celtic to seven points with three games still remaining this season.
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