The build up to an Old Firm always begins weeks before the actual game, everything else just getting in the way before one of the biggest fixtures in world football.
This week, players and coaches of both sides have been asked about Sunday’s first of the season before crucial Europa League games, however, it was the comments of Celtic skipper, Callum McGregor, that were most intriguing, as reported by Sky Sports:
“We are not thinking about what was said in the summer, what has been said now.
“We will let everyone else talk about the (Rangers) game.
“Our focus is building something special here, the manager speaks about it every day.
“We just want to get better. We try and make the supporters proud of what we are doing. We know that we have still got levels to go.”
You would often see Neil Lennon or Scott Brown describe their team as magnificent or incredible, over the top nonsense after a 3-0 win over a team like Hamilton, so it’s interesting to hear McGregor say that they have “levels” to go when they are off the back of two 6-0 victories.
It could be humility in that the Celtic defence still doesn’t look too convincing or hubris in that winning 6-0 isn’t enough for them, either way, it’s a strange thing to come out with.
When Steven Gerrard or one of his players speaks, all you get is straight talking, no riddles, just an honest assessment of where Rangers are at that moment in time.
Out of the two teams, there is one that, realistically, still has some way to go before it hits top form and it isn’t Celtic, league titles aren’t won in August remember.