Rangers need ‘vital’ Vaclav Cerny development before Celtic trip
Rangers will potentially need vital developments with Vaclav Cerny before they face Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
Barry Ferguson’s team will travel to Parkhead on 16 March as they sit 16 points behind their Old Firm rivals in the league table.
The Gers are coming off an emotional victory over Fenerbahce in the Europa League last-16 on 13 March and have qualified for the quarter-finals.
Ibrox witnessed a tense game against Jose Mourinho’s team before Jack Butland’s heroics saved the Light Blues, but the players will arguably be knackered after playing 120 minutes.
Cerny needs recovering as Rangers face Celtic at Parkhead
It will be vital for the Bears to recover Cerny as they head to Parkhead on Sunday, Scott Arfield says.
The former Gers midfielder believes the 27-year-old was a constant threat to Mourinho’s team, but the Portuguese manager managed to keep him quiet during the second leg.
Arfield noticed the Czechia international limping towards the end of the fixture against Fenerbahce and hopes he will be fully fit to face Celtic.
| Competition (2024/25) | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Scottish Premiership | 26 | 11 | 2 |
The 36-year-old who is currently playing for Falkirk wrote in the Daily Record (15 March): “Fair play to [Mourinho], he learned his lesson from the game in Istanbul and made sure to double up on Cerny and deny him the space he explored so ruthlessly last time.
“The Czech ace looked like he was limping near the end, and getting him recovered will be vital to Rangers [against Celtic].”
Barry Ferguson to rely on Cerny v Celtic
Barry Ferguson will hope to continue at Rangers beyond this season, and a win over Celtic will help him stake a claim.
The Gers icon was appointed interim manager after Philippe Clement’s sacking and has had a mixed start to life at Ibrox.
While the Light Blues have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League after beating Fenerbahce, their prospects in the competition look bleak.
Athletic Club are up next for the Bears in the quarter-finals, with the road to Bilbao paved with several obstacles.
The Glaswegian outfit have been inconsistent this season, and whether they will turn up at Parkhead remains to be seen.
Ferguson has seen the Gers’ inconsistency first-hand as they lost to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership recently.
Cerny has been the Light Blues’ got-to forward in the current campaign, and his goal-controbutions have been influential.
The 27-year-old will undoubtedly pose threats to Brendan Rodgers’ team if he’s fully fit against them on Sunday.