Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic and Grame Murty’s Rangers will face off against each other in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan sat down for an exclusive interview with the Scotsman, and urged Brendan Rodgers to start Leigh Griffiths against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday.
The 27-year-old has been exceptional for the Hoops, since joining the club from Wolves in January 2014, and has bagged an incredible 98 goals in 178 games thus far.
He has played second fiddle to Moussa Dembele at Parkhead this season, however, managing just 13 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.
Strachan, though, backed Griffiths ahead of Celtic’s clash with Rangers on Sunday, and urged Brendan Rodgers to start the Scotland international against Graeme Murty’s men, when speaking exclusively to the Scotsman:
“There’s a case for Griff [on Sunday] because he’s never let them down when he’s played. You can say in terms of defending set-plays and attacking set-plays you lose a bit of height but actually, in free play, when the ball goes in the box, he’s good in the air. He’s become far better in the air over the last three or four years. You need to be brave to do that. So he’s come on brilliantly in that regard. Big games, they might go for power, but Griff gives you something else. When you play him, I think you are guaranteed four shots a game.”
The Hoops have not lost to the Gers over 90 minutes since 2012, and they will be heavy favourites to continue that run at Hampden Park on Sunday.
Rodgers’ men are looking to complete back-to-back trebles, and Rangers will be desperate to stop their bitter rivals from doing just that.
The game kicks off at 14:30 and can be seen exclusively live on Sky Sports.
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