Is Old Firm A Must-win For 'connected' Celtic?

The first Old Firm derby of nan play usually provides nan chance to stamp authority, genuinely boost morale and declare bragging rights.

And usually, of precocious anyway, that chance has been gladly accepted by Celtic.

But this has not been nan accustomed commencement to nan play for nan Parkhead outfit - nor their rivals crossed nan city.

Fleetingly do some Celtic and Rangers participate this fierce fixture successful arsenic exasperating states.

On-field and off-field, location person been much jeers than cheers successful nan infancy of this calamitous campaign.

Despite possessing a six-point lead complete Russell Martin's Rangers, Brendan Rodgers and nan Celtic committee will consciousness nan power astatine precocious noon connected Sunday, peculiarly from nan pouch of distant fans coming astatine Ibrox.

So, what are nan cardinal questions for Celtic earlier they caput to Govan?

If this mobility was posed 1 twelvemonth ago, it would've been met pinch a hearty chuckle by those of a Celtic persuasion.

Up until nan move of nan year, Rodgers had a adjacent blemish-free study paper against Rangers, pinch conscionable 1 conclusion successful 20 derbies.

Last play started successful nan aforesaid vein pinch a regular 3-0 convention win, earlier Celtic yet sewage by their rivals successful nan League Cup last successful a punishment shootout.

Since then, though, it's gone a spot pear-shaped.

Two defeats - to Phillipe Clement and Barry Ferguson - and a tie successful nan last gathering past play intends Rodgers' Celtic haven't defeated Rangers successful 90 minutes since 1 September 2024. One triumph successful nan past 5 meetings.

When it's put for illustration that, it's difficult to warrant really this isn't a must-win.

How do Celtic subordinate that trend, though? Well, Rodgers insists it's "not rocket science".

"Play good and play without fear," nan head said successful a wide-ranging and eyebrow-raising property conference.

"We've won astir of our games against Rangers because we've played good and focused connected capacity and not sewage excessively caught up successful nan full hype of it all."

Sticking pinch that pre-match property conference, Rodgers said, among different things, that immoderate proposal of disconnect wrong nan nine "couldn't beryllium further from nan truth".

The temper euphony has shifted... again.

In caller weeks, Rodgers has not held backmost in venting his vexation astatine nan deficiency of transportation activity - much of that to travel - but present he assured he and his committee are "connected".

"We've sewage a committee of board who bleed for nan club," Rodgers said.

"They want nan nine to do well, truthful everyone present is connected.

"It's not what I spot and I hear, each this disconnection, it couldn't beryllium further from nan truth.

"Every azygous feline from me, nan board, Dermot Desmond, we emotion Celtic, but we want Celtic to beryllium nan very, very best."

While Rodgers and his level whitethorn beryllium singing from nan aforesaid hymn sheet, nan feeling among nan supporters is not truthful harmonious.

From afar, nan disconnect and displeasure from various facets of nan nine has travel from nan scarce signings made.

Since returning for pre-season backmost successful early July, Rodgers has expressed his dream of high-quality players arriving earlier each milestone. The first convention game, nan Champions League play-off, now, earlier nan timepiece strikes 23:00 connected deadline day.

Kieran Tierney and Benjamin Nygren are nan exceptions, while nan timing of winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha's presence - aft nan nine were confirmed arsenic a Europa League subordinate - was peculiar.

That peculiar taxable feels for illustration Groundhog Day for Rodgers and supporters alike.

"It's a trend," Rodgers said of Celtic's continuance to do business precocious successful nan window.

"It's not astir investment. The nine will invest, but it's each astir timely investment, and I deliberation that it's astir decidedly what we request to look at."

And now, they're chasing their tail a tad.

While Rodgers revealed Boca Juniors left-back Marcelo Saracchi is "in nan building", he besides confirmed location is "interest" successful Adam Idah, who nan BBC understands Swansea person agreed a interest for, but stressed "no 1 tin time off unless we get players successful to switch them".

Though he is "pretty sure" nan nine will beryllium "pretty busy" earlier nan model shuts connected Monday.

The head besides confirmed winger nan Hyun-jun has attracted interest.

Kasper Schmeichel, Anthony Ralston...

No, we're not going to tally done and foretell nan team, though Rodgers did stock that Anthony Ralston - who soldiered connected arsenic agelong arsenic he could successful Kazakhstan connected Tuesday - didn't train today, but "should beryllium okay tomorrow".

With Alistair Johnston sidelined for 12 weeks, Ralston and awesome academy prima Colby Donovan are successful title for nan right-back berth, but imminent-signing Saracchi tin capable successful there, too.

Yang was fixed nan motion retired wide against Kairat Almaty aft an awesome cameo successful nan first leg, but grounded to replicate it successful Kazakhstan connected a tricky nighttime for nan 23-year-old and Celtic arsenic a whole.

Balikwisha has kept his fittingness ticking complete for Royal Antwerp, truthful Rodgers believes he is "ready-made" to play.

While that could beryllium a debut, it could beryllium a farewell for Idah, conscionable 12 months connected from his imperishable signing.

He earned nan large money-move pinch a "fairytale" 90th-minute victor against Rangers successful nan Scottish Cup final.

Idah's prima has fallen somewhat successful nan months since, but Sunday provides a caller opportunity for different Celtic subordinate to constitute themselves into folklore.