Both Celtic and Rangers will be in Europa League action on Thursday night after Steven Gerrard’s side closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership table to one point over the weekend.
Michael Stewart has stated that Celtic will ‘pay respect’ to Rangers as he shut down the thought that Neil Lennon’s side will be ‘concerned’ by the form of their rivals.
Steven Gerrard’s side thrashed Aberdeen 5-0 over the weekend, whilst Celtic dropped points at Hibernian, but they are still top of the Scottish Premiership table despite those two results.
Since losing to Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season, Rangers have bounced back very well by winning five games on the bounce in all competitions.
Speaking to Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland, Stewart thinks that Celtic well be aware of Rangers’ improvements, but they will also know that if they themselves turn it on then there’s nothing that can stop them.
On how concerned Celtic will be by this Rangers side and how they are playing: “How concerned are Celtic going to be?” Stewart asked on Sportsound. “Like any other season, they are going to pay respect to the teams they are up against.
“I get the impression that Celtic are in a position where they are concentrating on what they are doing themselves. They have been over the course so much in the last few years that I don’t think they will be overly concerned or looking over their shoulders or worrying too much.
“They know that there is a side there that has improved. But Celtic will be looking at themselves and saying if we play to the potential that we can then we are capable of winning the title regardless of what any other side does.”
The Gers will be hoping they can take their recent form to Switzerland tomorrow because they will take on Young Boys in the Europa League.
Gerrard’s side put on a good showing in Europe last season, but they will be hoping to go one better and go much deeper into the competition this time around.
As for Celtic, they face off against familiar opponents in CFR Cluj, the team who ended their Champions League hopes in August.
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