The Loudest Roar – Celtic SLO confirms Paradise set for record breaking attendance tonight for the stadium that Fergus McCann built…
For Celtic, tonight’s game against theRangers at Celtic Park is of the greatest significance.
Should Celtic conspire to lose in front of 60,000 of our own fans and no away support, and we would have the longest run without a win, over either form of the club that has played out of Ibrox, since the turn of the century. Win however, and Celtic not only get that monkey off the back, we also return to the top of the Scottish Premiership and pile the pressure on an opponent who has a tendency to fold when the going gets tough.
Celtic will have the huge advantage of 60,000 voices roaring them on from the warm-up to hopefully the post match walk around the stadium. And Celtic SLO John Paul Taylor has confirmed that tonight will see a record attendance inside Celtic Park, with no away support, there will be no segregation and every single seat in Paradise will be filled.
With no segregation tonight, will this be the new stadiums biggest attendance?
— – (@Tam_Selleck) February 2, 2022
I suspect it may well be, been trying to think of another match that sold out with no away fans or segregation but struggling to think of any so I think it may well be yes
— Celtic FC SLO (@CelticFCSLO) February 2, 2022
Celtic haven’t won in two years against theRangers, although only one of those six games was played in front of fans and none in front of our own. Win tonight and a light is shone on a weak opponent who needed piped in fan noise to prevail rather than the pressure they wilt under from the bile of their own.
Ange Postecoglou has of course played down the significance of this game in terms of a title race, as did Josip Juranovic in yesterday’s press conference, but both recognised the significance for the fans – that was a clear and consistent message clearly passed down from the manager, they fully understand the importance of this fixture to the support.
And whilst there are only three points available, just as there was against Dundee United on Saturday and will be against Motherwell on Sunday, it is not just a matter of three points for a support who have waited too long for us to lay a glove on an opponent we had been used to toying with in previous years.
When Celtic went to Ibrox at the start of the season we competed well, indeed the only goal came from the concession of a set piece, and despite only being a couple of weeks into Ange Postecoglou’s footballing revolution, with players who were strangers and a hybrid starting eleven of new hungry players, those with one foot out the door and some thrown in but not ready for a game of such magnitude, we still held our own and deserved at least a point.
Now we are in a far better place. After six games of a season in which we lost three games, since then, we haven’t lost – in seventeen games. The team spirit is matched by on field cohesion, the manager has performed beyond expectation and a connection between the management, players and supporters has not only been mended, after a season of non-triers, it has become a key strength.
And it’s that bond that will see us through tonight. The Celtic support are thankful, grateful even, to be in a position where we can top the league tonight in a season we all believed we simply had to show we could compete, whilst in transition.
Now the squad is rebuilt, confidence in the camp is high, and we’re on a roll, but we need this win to give that final injection of confidence that we can beat the champions, the pre-season victors-elect and remove that final mental block.
We know every player on that team will give 100% to win this game for the support and we know those in the stands will give them every ounce of encouragement they need to perform above themselves. With that connection Celtic can prevail and top the league . And as we hurtle towards title winning momentum, the negativity and the self-doubt will transfer entirely across the city to a side who since the winter break are visibly unsure already.
There is a unity at Celtic once again and there have been performances to marvel at and an attitude exhibited, whereby losing is simply not a consideration. There is one last mental hurdle to get over now, and although it may be more significant for the support than the team, both are aware of the importance. Win tonight and we can break through that final barrier and we can go on to wrest back a title we conceded far too meekly. That bond between the players and the support can ensure we do just that.
Niall J
