GLASGOW (AFP) – Brendan Rodgers has urged Celtic to ensure they do not “soften up” in the Scottish title race as the leaders prepare to face Old Firm rivals Rangers tonight.
Rodgers’ side head into the Glasgow derby at Ibrox with a 14-point lead over second-placed Rangers.
Rangers have dropped points at St Mirren and Motherwell in their last two games, while Celtic were 4-0 winners in each of their previous matches against St Johnstone and Motherwell.
Rangers have come under fire from frustrated supporters after another spluttering campaign leaves them vulnerable to being blown away by Celtic in the title race and their head to head meetings.
But Hoops boss Rodgers stressed a winning mentality and culture that restricted his team to two defeats in 2024 would ensure they don’t step off the gas.
“Listen, we will always assume the pressure. We put ourselves under pressure in every game to win and to win well. So nothing changes in this aspect,” he said on Tuesday.
“We always stay in a humble way to prepare for games. People look at the gap, but that doesn’t even come into it. We cannot soften up, we will not soften up.
“We perform for the next game because we know how much this game means to people.
“I went there last season, the first game, under pressure and all the things. Now I go there with a 14-point lead, but there’s no change for us, the mentality is to go and perform and look to play our game.”
Adding to the problems for Rangers boss Philippe Clement is a defensive injury crisis, with injured captain James Tavernier ruled out for “a few weeks”.
The right-back picked up the knock at Motherwell and joins John Souttar (groin) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) on the sidelines.
Clement revealed 36-year-old Leon Balogun has a “very, very, very small chance” of recovering from injury in time to face Celtic.
If Balogun cannot start, Clement may have to call on 20-year-old Leon King, who has not played since May.
Clement, looking for his first win against Celtic in what will be his seventh attempt since taking over as Rangers manager in October 2023, said: “Nobody will come back into the squad and we lose Tav also, who got an injury at the end of the game.
“We took a scan, and there’s clear damage there so he will be out for a few weeks.
“It needs to be possible for Leon to play. You cannot play on one leg.
“We always take risks, and you have to do that in this business, but no crazy risks, that players can be out for months.”
