The final Old Firm derby of the Scottish Premiership season arrives with significant implications for the title race. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill and Rangers counterpart Danny Röhl have both addressed the media ahead of Sunday's crucial encounter at Parkhead, live on Sky Sports.
The championship battle has narrowed to a two-horse race between Celtic and Hearts. O'Neill's side currently sits three points behind the league leaders with only three matches remaining. A defeat to their city rivals on Sunday could effectively end Celtic's title defense, making this a must-win fixture for the home side.
O'Neill, who expects this to be his final Glasgow derby during his third spell at the club, emphasized the need for his team to seize the initiative from the outset. He acknowledged that while there are goals to make up in the table, the title remains within Celtic's own control. The manager is anticipating a strong reaction from Rangers following their recent disappointing results.
Rangers' own championship aspirations were severely damaged by consecutive defeats to Motherwell and Hearts. However, the Ibrox club still has much to play for, as a second-place finish would secure a spot in Champions League qualifying. Manager Danny Röhl, who has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga but insists he remains committed to Rangers, described the Old Firm clash as a special game that requires no extra motivation.
Röhl reflected on Rangers' last visit to Parkhead, where they produced a memorable comeback to win 3-1 after trailing at halftime. He used that performance as an example of the belief and resilience his team has developed, even when things aren't going their way during a match.
The German manager also spoke about the broader cultural shift he is trying to implement at Rangers. He noted that the club hasn't won what it should have over the past fifteen years and is focused on raising standards. Despite a setback in the last week, Röhl expressed his motivation to continue improving every day and make the necessary steps forward for the new season.
With Hearts playing at Motherwell on Saturday night, the title picture could become even clearer before the Old Firm kicks off. Regardless of other results, both Glasgow managers are preparing for a fiercely competitive derby where pride and league positioning are on the line.
Based on reporting from SkySports | News.
