Martin O’Neill shares his ‘concern’ for Celtic ahead of facing Rangers in Old Firm
Martin O’Neill believes that Rangers have a serious shot of beating Celtic next week due to their improved physicality under Philippe Clement.
The Gers were defeated 1-0 by Celtic in September’s reverse fixture, but they have recovered superbly since Clement replaced Michael Beale.
Indeed, Rangers have closed the gap on the leaders to just two points with a game in hand to play ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.
Previewing the showdown between the Old Firm pair at Celtic Park on 30 December, O’Neill told PLZ Soccer [23 December]: “Rangers, since Clement has come in, have a bit more steel about them.
“My concern about Celtic, which has been proved in the Champions League, is that they need more physicality – not big brutes playing for you, but some physicality. Rangers have players who look strong.”
Great form
It is not just in terms of physicality in which Rangers have been better than Celtic over the past couple of months.
Clement has transformed the Gers in such a short space of time, so much so that the Gers’ title hopes are now in their own hands.
There is still a long, long way of the campaign to go, of course, but nobody really expected the Light Blues to be able to challenge at the top after such a slow start to the season.
Under Clement, though, they have won eight and drawn one of their nine league matches, whereas Celtic have faltered over the same period.
A point would be a good return on enemy territory should Rangers beat Motherwell and Ross County before then, but Clement will no doubt set his side out to win.
And if the physicality O’Neill talks about ends up being the deciding factor, then that is something every Gers fan will take.
In other Rangers news, a BBC Sport pundit has mooted a change of role for a Gers player after what he saw earlier this week.