FORMER CELTIC defender Steven Pressley has said Saturday’s game versus Rangers without fans will allow player that would normally be intimated by the occasion to rise to it and prosper. Whilst players like Scott Brown are able to get themselves motivated with or without the supporters, Pressley reckons that some players that are intimidated by the noise and passion of the Glasgow Derby might be able to bring about the best in some of Celtic’s more quiet characters.
As reported by the Daily Record, Elvis, who played for Celtic between 2006-2008 reckons that the atmosphere will be like nothing experienced by players before as the typical Glasgow Derby entails a lot of noise, colour and passion. However, there will be an eerie silence in Glasgow’s East End as the teams emerge from the tunnel.
“The Old Firm game is built on the intensity, the hatred with the supporters, the atmosphere in the stadium and unfortunately we are not going to have that.
“You have a situation where certain players thrive on the occasion and the atmosphere, the likes of Scott Brown, but there are other who it might suit if the occasion actually gets to them.
“So it’s not going to be the Old Firm game as we know it. But it’s certainly got the same importance.
“It’s a massive game for both clubs.”
Celtic could hand a debut to Diego Laxalt and are likely to give some of their new signings Shane Duffy, Vasilis Barkas, Albian Ajeti and David Turnbull their Glasgow Derby initiations at the weekend. Celtic won two out of the three fixtures last season with a combined score of 4-2; however fell to a 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park in December. Neil Lennon and his team will know the importance of the fixture, even if there aren’t 60,000 fanatics there to remind them.
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