Rangers v Celtic atmosphere verdict shared by Malik Tillman ahead of PSV v Feyenoord clash
Malik Tillman was blown away by the size of the rivalry with Celtic during his time with Rangers.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Ibrox and experienced five Old Firm showdowns up close, losing four of those and drawing the other.
Tillman is now on loan with PSV and has played in a couple of derbies with Feyenoord, with the two sides again facing off in Eredivisie on Sunday (3 March).
Asked about his experience of playing for Rangers against Celtic, Tillman is quoted by the Daily Record [2 March] as saying: “Old Firm games? Wow!
“I remember a lot of tension. Unfortunately, we didn’t win one when I played for Rangers, but it was a great experience.
“After the first match against Celtic, away fans were no longer allowed. Then you played in a stadium that was completely against you. If you scored, no one cheered.
“The games were madness, something completely unique. With PSV we have a rivalry with Feyenoord, but in Glasgow, it’s on a different level.
“It’s about different things too because when the supporters of the two clubs fight with each other, then it also concerns matters like religion for example.”
Old Firm the biggest derby around
It is pretty much the oldest football fan debate going: Which is the best derby in British football? You know all the usual suggestions by now, and yet none come close to Rangers versus Celtic.
In fact, don’t let supporters tell you, just ask those who have played in multiple derbies. In terms of the wildest derbies in Europe, the Old Firm can more than hold its own.
Tillman is correct in saying that the rivalry goes beyond just football, and sometimes it does unfortunately go too far away from the field.
What now works against this showpiece fixture as a spectacle is that away supporters are currently not in attendance at both Celtic Park and Ibrox.
The sooner that is rectified, the better for everyone involved. It is a shame that Tillman was not on the winning side of an Old Firm match, but at least he can say he was part of one.
In other Rangers news, Philippe Clement has delivered an injury update ahead of the Gers’ meeting with Motherwell.
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