Barry Ferguson sends mad message to Ryan Naderi and Rangers winter signings for Celtic clash
Ryan Naderi and the other winter signings are in for an amazing experience as Rangers face Celtic in the William Hill Premiership on Sunday.
Barry Ferguson believes the German striker, Andreas Skov Olsen, Tochi Chukwuani and Tuur Rommens will be blown away by their first Old Firm derby on 1 March at Ibrox.
The former Gers interim manager has demanded that the new signings take the madness of the moment in their stride and make the most of it.
A win over the Hoops could potentially be monumental for the Light Blues in the race for the league title, with Hearts currently four points clear at the top of the table.
Rangers winter signings in for something never seen before vs Celtic
Celtic have fallen off massively this season, with Brendan Rodgers’ resignation leading to an unprecedented situation at Parkhead.
Martin O’Neill has had to come in on an interim basis twice after Wilfried Nancy’s abysmal tenure in the William Hill Premiership, but there’s only so much the Northern Irishman can do.
Despite the 2-2 draw with Livingston at Almondvale Stadium, the Gers will surely be confident about getting the better of their Old Firm rivals at Ibrox.
Danny Rohl’s team have turned up for the big games in recent weeks, especially at home, and the Light Blues may be able to deal a blow to the Hoops’ title hopes.
Writing in the Daily Record on 25 February, Ferguson said, “Trust me, some of the new guys will never have experienced anything like what they are about to be thrown into. They should relish every single second of it.
“The likes of Chukwuani, Rommens, Skov Olsen and Naderi will be blown away by it. But they have to embrace the madness and thrive on it because they’ll never sample the same intensity anywhere else. Plug into it. Breathe in the energy from the stands. Let it fill your whole body to the point of fever pitch.”
Danny Rohl to keep faith in one player despite Ibrox criticism
Fans weren’t happy to see Youssef Chermiti start against Hearts at Ibrox, but the striker silenced his critics with a hat-trick in the Gers’ 4-2 victory.
It seemed like the three goals would be a potential turning point for the 21-year-old centre-forward’s season, but he was back to his anonymous self in West Lothian.
Chermiti has shown Rohl he isn’t reliable, but the German manager will surely look to stick with the Portugal Under-21 international for the Old Firm derby due to his record in big games, and should start Naderi alongside him.
Six of the former Everton ace’s seven league goals have come against Hearts and Celtic, but it remains to be seen whether he can be the game-changer in Govan once again for one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
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