How Celtic will be out to 'disorganise' a 'robust' Rangers at Ibrox

Callum McGregor says Celtic’s mission at Ibrox must be to mess up the smooth-running 4-3-3 operation of their bitter rivals.

Callum McGregor maintains no-one at Celtic underestimated the title challenge that would be posed by Rangers this season. (Photo by Craig Foy / SNS Group)

The midfielder, likely to captain Neil Lennon’s men with Scott Brown set to start on the bench, denies that Rangers were underestimated this season. Few expected they could boast a 16-point advantage over their 10-in-a-row chasing adversaries, though. However, McGregor maintains that still does not make this latest edition of the derby must-win for the visitors.

“They are tough games against Rangers and they’ve shown this season how well organised they are. We have to find a way to dis-organise them,” said the 27-year-old, who believes six straight successes for Celtic have demonstrated they have the means to do that.

“We’re scoring goals and the two boys up the top of the pitch [in Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths] are looking in good form. We also seem to have a nice balance behind that which is good. I think [Ismaila Soro and David Tunrbull] have been great. Sometimes when you put players in they have no fear, which is good. That can be an advantage. We have enough experience around the squad and so we can manage that if it’s the case a few boys are playing in the derby for the first time. We have to go into the game positively. It’s an important match and we’ll be looking to win it.

“Rangers haven’t been underestimated by anyone here. They’ve got a great defensive record and that’s what they’ve built their success on the last few years. They’ve been really robust and they play their system well. So, when you do that and you’ve got good players, you’ve always got a chance of nicking a goal and can easily go on a run, like they have done. So it’s important for us to step up to that challenge.

“I think everyone on the outside will maybe think that [the game is must win for us]. But it’s how you deal with the set-backs during the season. It’s about where you finish at the end of May. We have to look at the long picture.”

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