Charlie Adam: Antonio Colak could be the difference in Rangers Old Firm clash v Celtic
Charlie Adam feels that Rangers striker Antonio Colak or Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi could be vital in deciding who wins this weekend’s first Old Firm clash of the season.
Colak has seven goals in nine matches for the Gers so far in the 2022/23 season and has proven to be a shrewd addition by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The Gers head into the fixture knowing that a defeat will leave them five points behind Ange Postecoglou’s side with only six games of the season played.
However, Adam does feel that Rangers can go to Celtic Park and get a result.
Talking on talkSPORT on Friday 2 September [09:12], he said: “If you lose this one then you’re five behind and at Celtic Park, it’s a tough game, it’s a tough venue and it’s going to be difficult.
“However, this group of players have gone to Eindhoven and put a performance in and they’ve done it at Celtic Park before.
“This will be as close as an Old Firm game has been in years and I think it will be decided by which striker is in better form.
“Kyogo Furuhashi and Antonio Colak are on fire and they could be the key to who wins the game.
“I think it could be that close.”
Must not lose
Despite the season only being a matter of weeks old, it’s vitally important that Rangers don’t lose this first Old Firm clash of the season.
Their draw to Hibernian at Easter Road has already left the Gers playing catch-up in the Scottish Premiership and after Celtic’s start to the season, it’s difficult to envisage them dropping many points over the course of the campaign.
Five points would be a large gap for van Bronckhorst’s side to close, which is why a draw wouldn’t be the worst result on Saturday lunchtime.
A two-point gap keeps the Gers within touching distance of Celtic, with their fierce rivals still to travel to Ibrox later on in the season.
This will be the first Old Firm test for the likes of Colak, who has started life superbly in Scotland.
He has shown in Champions League qualifiers that he is built for big occasions and now it will be intriguing to see if he can deal with the intense pressure of an Old Firm derby.
It promises to be a fascinating encounter at Parkhead on Saturday (3 September).
In other Rangers news, training AWOL reports have been shut down on deadline day as player exit talk goes away