Manager looks ahead to Glasgow derby clash

Manager looks ahead to Glasgow derby clash

Martin O’Neill has plenty of experience of the Glasgow derby garnered over his time at the club, and Sunday’s clash at Celtic Park is a game he’s looking forward to.

It will be his fourth game against Rangers side this season – have enjoyed two cup wins and a league draw in the three previous encounters – though this will be his first derby game at Celtic Park since 2005

With three league games remaining, Celtic are second in the table, four points clear of Rangers and three points behind Hearts, who face Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.

Every point is precious at this stage of the campaign, and the Celtic manager will be looking for his side to take all three against their city rivals.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash, Martin O’Neill said: “I’m really looking forward to the game. There’s plenty to play for – there always seems to be, too, but particularly now, coming to the back end of the season.

“You would have to say it’s actually out of Rangers’ hands, so from that viewpoint, that’s probably the only thing that’s changed.

"That’s not to say you would rule them out but at the minute, with games running out, it’s out of their hands.

“Regardless of what the result was before, it will be a strong Rangers side and I think there’ll be a big reaction as well, so we’ve got to be ready for that ourselves. But the place will be rocking on Sunday.”

The manager confirmed that Daizen Maeda is fit for the weekend after he limped off at the end of last weekend’s victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.

And he also believes the squad is in better shape for this derby clash than they were when the sides met in the Scottish Cup quarter-final at Ibrox back in March.

“In terms of players who were missing from that game, absolutely,” he said.

“The captain didn’t play in the match and we had a few injury problems, and we were coming off the fourth game in about eight or nine days, so we’re in a better frame of mind. It doesn’t guarantee anything but it augurs well.

“Since Tannadice, and we had some time to reflect on it because of the international break, we came back and went back to Dundee and got the late winner, and it’s gone from there.