The Hoops met Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final last term.
Erik Sviatchenko
Erik Sviatchenko has suggested to the Daily Record that Celtic are now stronger in two areas than when they were preparing to face Rangers in last season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Like ahead of this Saturday’s clash, the Hoops went into the Hampden Park showdown at the top of the Scottish Premiership. However, they were outplayed for large parts of the game by Mark Warburton’s side, and ended up being knocked out on penalties.
Rangers players celebrating after winning the penalty shootout
And while the Gers’ subsequent promotion to the top flight would suggest that this weekend’s contest will be even tougher for Brendan Rodgers’ men, Sviatchenko – who scored in the semi-final – has insisted that the Bhoys are in a much better place currently.
“As a team we were a bit different back then. We are much better now. Our physicality, our stamina is better,” he told the Record.
“We have been training a lot an working on these kind of things to improve.
“We are at a different level. It is a mentality and fitness thing.”
There can be little doubt that Rodgers has already improved the team he took over in the summer. Not only have they registered a perfect league record from their opening three games and reached the Champions League group-stages, but they also appear to be playing a much more exciting brand of football.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers
And perhaps more importantly, given the teams they face in their next two games – Barcelona are next up for Celtic following the Old Firm game – they also appear to have discovered a fighting spirit that they perhaps lacked under Ronny Deila.
And that could be crucial to their hopes of winning back the bragging rights and earning another three points this weekend.
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