Celtic great predicts thrilling edition of Old Firm
EXCLUSIVE: With only a point separating Celtic and Rangers heading into the third Old Firm derby of the season, former Celtic captain Paul Lambert predicts a cliff-hanger ending to this season’s title race.
Lambert was a member of the Celtic side that prevented Rangers from winning 10 league titles in a row in the mid-1990s, and the former Scotland international says Sunday’s clash at Ibrox could be season-defining.
“I think it's going to go right down to the wire,” he told beIN SPORTS. “In this moment, I don't think there's any clear favourite.”
Celtic holds a one-point advantage over its Glasgow rival heading into Sunday’s showdown, with Rangers facing a tricky trip to Dens Park to face Dundee just three days after the derby.
Celtic has won both Old Firm encounters to date, but a nine-game winning run – which only recently ended with a shock 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox – has seen Philippe Clement’s men rocket back into title contention.
“It’s special game, but you’ve got to be really brave in it,” Lambert said of the derby. “You’ve got be really strong in the head to not to do anything crazy on the field.”
Lambert famously settled an Old Firm derby with a 30-yard thunderbolt at Parkhead on the way to clinching the 1997-1998 title, and the Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductee firmly believes the clash is among the top three fixtures in world football.
“The Old Firm's a unique game… and you can go anywhere in the world and everybody wants to watch that one, just because of what it is and what it stands for,” he said.
“I’m lucky enough to have played in them, but the amount of people that ask me… can you get tickets to the game, from all over the world (is incredible).”
While this week's clash at Ibrox won’t feature Celtic fans, both clubs have agreed to allow away fans to attend Old Firm derbies next season after resolving a long-standing ticketing dispute.
“It's just been announced that they're going to let (away) fans in for next season,” Lambert said.
“I think that’s a major thing because playing without your visiting fans, it’s no good for either club.”
Lambert was also quick to praise former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, who ended up lifting five trophies with The Hoops despite a slow start in the East End of Glasgow.
“He came in there and nobody gave him a chance, really,” Lambert said.
“He lost the first two games, I think, and everybody thinks it’s a total disaster.
“Then all of a sudden, the team hit total form and won virtually everything in sight.”
While the former Socceroos manager has made an impressive start to life in the English Premier League with Tottenham, Lambert expects Postecoglou will look back on his time at Celtic with particular fondness.
“You couldn’t have asked for anything more than what he gave the club,” Lambert said.
“But I think if you go back – and he’ll probably say it himself – Celtic was a special club and gave him everything that he wished for.”
