Brendan Rodgers responds to what Ally McCoist said about Rangers v Celtic
Brendan Rodgers has agreed with Ally McCoist that Rangers and Celtic need to get away fans back into Old Firm games this season.
Rangers crashed to an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the first Old Firm of the season on Sunday 1 September, with no travelling support once again.
McCoist admitted that away fans are the one thing that the huge derby is missing, with Rodgers admitting it’s an “incredible” atmosphere when it happens.
Speaking live on talkSPORT, McCoist was scratching his head at what it would take to finally come to a solution between the clubs.
“The one thing that is missing is that it’s time to get the Old Firm fans back in the away ground,” he said live on talkSPORT [2 September, 9:23].
“I don’t know what it’s going to take but speaking on behalf of fans up and down the country, get Celtic fans back at Ibrox and vice versa.
Rodgers went on to reply: “It’s what makes the game as you know Ally and absolutely, when I first came to Celtic in 2016, I really enjoyed both games.
“And, for Celtic and Rangers, it’s an incredible atmosphere with both sets of supporters in the ground.
“We hoped it was going to be this season but we really hope that after these first two fixtures, we get back to normality to what it has always been because it’s absolutely fantastic.”
Rangers and Celtic saga continues in Old Firm
The 2024/25 season hasn’t gone as Philippe Clement would’ve likely hoped so far. The Gers find themselves fourth in the Scottish Premiership, which, by their standards, is ridiculously poor.
Each season it’s expected that Celtic and Rangers will battle it out for the Scottish Premiership title. However, although we’re only four games into the season, it feels as if Clement has already conceded and given up.
There have been several players brought into the club to bolster their ranks but, Robin Propper, who was one of the marquee summer signings, had a howler in his first Old Firm.
Obviously, the result can’t be put down to just one poor performance but the Dutchman had a particularly poor game as Neil McCann pointed out [Sky Sports, 1 September].
Mohamed Diomande was another that failed to impress and the lack of passion and determination was one of the key reasons behind yet another loss.
There’s still plenty of time for amends to be made but Clement needs to find his perfect 11 as soon as possible to put up more of a fight in the next Old Firm at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist has shared what Rangers must do for the remainder of the season.
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