Hampden awaits the Old Firm: Rangers vs Celtic ViaPlay Cup Final preview
Sunday 26 February will be a busy day in the Scottish Football calendar as both sides of the Old Firm meet at Hampden Park to battle it out for the Scottish League Cup.
To get to this point, both Celtic and Rangers saw out Kilmarnock and Aberdeen respectively, in what were challenging matches for Scotland’s ‘big two’.
As well as performing well in the League Cup, both sides come into this game in tremendous league form, unbeaten in their last 11 games.
Ange Postecoglou’s men come into the fixture as the favourites with many fans believing the Bhoys’ league form will play an important factor in who will come out on top.
Postecoglou will not focus on how his side are favourites, but instead on the fact that he is looking to win his third trophy as Celtic manager and his second League Cup in a row.
When speaking on the match, Postecoglou said: “The expectations when you go into a new season at this football club is that you try and challenge for everything that’s there and what’s happened the year before is, as I’ve said on a number of occasions, either in your trophy room or someone else’s trophy room. It doesn’t carry on to the following year.
“The responsibility we have representing this football club and me as a manager is that we’ve got to a final and there’s a chance for us to win it, and if we win it, that adds another trophy to this football club. And then once that’s done, you’ve got to focus on what the next challenge is before you.
“We’ve had to overcome challenges. It’s not like it’s been smooth the whole way. We’ve had different challenges along the way, but the players have always found a way to overcome whatever challenges are before them.”
Rangers manager Michael Beale will be looking to make an instant impact and win his first trophy as manager. This is a big chance for Beale as he is only months into the job, having replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst last November. His charges have been unbeaten since the start of his tenure and will look to continue that form on Sunday.
When speaking on the match, Beale said: “It is a huge game for our football club and everyone involved, the fans, the players, myself and my staff, it is a huge privilege to be involved in this game.
“A rivalry like this that is world renowned, and I believe is the biggest rivalry in the world, and we are privileged as a country to have it here.
“I think it is a fantastic final for the neutral, I don't remember a game when the two teams went into in such fine form as well, I am really looking forward to it, I can’t wait for Sunday to finally arrive and all the preparations to be out of the way.”
Rangers captain James Tavernier and veteran goalkeeper Allan McGregor will be looking for success on Sunday, which will add to already successful careers at the club and comes after both were inducted into the Rangers’ Hall of Fame.