Ibrox side Glasgow Rangers face Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season today.
Celtic attacker Callum McGregor has told The Daily Mail that it’s obvious to him that Rangers have a much greater sense of unity this season.
The Hoops host Steven Gerrard’s side at Parkhead today in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
Rangers go to Parkhead on the back of securing qualification to the Europa League, with the nine-man Gers doing enough in Russia on Thursday afternoon to seal their progression after four ties.
Considering the Ibrox side failed to make it past the first qualifier last season, you could say that Gerrard has taken them to a new level entirely and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers must be weary of what the 38-year-old is doing on the other side of Glasgow.
And midfielder McGregor has put rivalries to one side for a moment to acknowledge that Celtic’s bitter rivals deserve credit for coming through the arduous preliminary phase.
“When you watch them now you can tell they have a real team spirit and have good quality all around the pitch,” McGregor told The Mail.
“They have signed a lot of players, they almost have two for each position now. That competition for places drives the standard up, I’ve always said that has been important here at Celtic.
“They have had a decent start in the league and they have come through Europa League qualification, which is tough to do. You have to give them credit for negotiating those games.”
McGregor is right. Gerrard has Rangers really believing in themselves, and why not? This is a team who played the final half-an-hour against Ufa with nine men and didn’t concede a goal, so they can be rock-solid when needed.
And they’ll certainly need that this afternoon against a wounded Celtic side who’ll be looking to prove that they don’t need Moussa Dembele, who left to join Lyon in a £19.7 million move on Friday.
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