Rangers vs Celtic: Danny Rolle and Martin O’Neill ‘battle of words’ ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm – live on Sky Sports | Soccer News

As preparations for Old Firm matches progress, we have become accustomed to the usual routine: widespread panic when goals are conceded, anger over refereeing decisions and club statement battles.

Management’s mind games were left out of the picture for quite some time, as the dark art of press conferences gave way to predictable soundboards of platitudes and politician-style answers.

This week was no exception until Rangers head coach Danny Rolle held his pregame press conference Friday morning.

Sunday, March 1st 11am

Often the embodiment of calm, the German is a tabloid journalist’s nightmare and a press secretary’s dream. He never cracks or gives too much away.

But ahead of one of the biggest Old Firm fixtures in decades – broadcast live on Sky Sports from 11am on Sunday – the Ibrox manager has unusually chosen to launch a series of attacks on his rivals.

What did Roll say?

“We know no team in that league would mess with us if we wanted to,” midfielder Luke McCowan insisted after Celtic’s first win on German soil on Thursday night.

McCowan scored the only goal against Stuttgart in a 1–0 win, but Celtic lost 4–2 on aggregate and were eliminated from the Europa League.

Rohr hit back at these comments, questioning Celtic’s desire to continue winning and drawing after taking an early lead.

He also addressed the goalkeeping situation after Biljami Sinisalo kept a clean sheet in Europe while number one Kasper Schmeichel was booed by his own supporters.

“We’re second, but they’re behind us,” the Rangers head coach said.

“I think they have seven or eight losses at the moment. Yeah, I don’t think it makes sense to talk too much about the opponent in general. We have to focus on ourselves.

“We want to win this game. We see the team as being ready to pick up points and we’ll see on Sunday. “Hopefully both teams give their best and I’m sure we have a great chance to win this game.”

“Looking at (Celtic’s) lineup yesterday (Thursday), looking at the starting lineup, I would expect some changes, but it’s normal for them to try to use the full squad.

“I was a little surprised that after 1-0 they didn’t try to win this game, 2-0, 3-0 and take a chance. I think they held the result until the end and it’s just a small difference.”

“But yeah, it will be interesting too, the goalkeeper position, let’s see what he’s doing now.

“But I think we are ready and focused on ourselves and we have some interesting decisions to make.

“We know if everyone is available, but in some positions it’s not an easy decision for me either because there are more than two or three players who are ready for this game.

“It’s a good situation. I like this. The players showed they are ready, which I think is important. So, let’s see what it means on Sunday.”

How did O’Neill react?

O’Neill, who had just returned from Stuttgart, had a chance to respond.

Incredibly, he didn’t actually hear Rolle’s comments until they were relayed to him in the pregame press conference.

“Did he think we weren’t aiming to win the tie? He wants to be in these games,” O’Neal replied.

“Yeah, I’ve never seen it that way. I mean, they’re actually a very good team, so we got pushed back. They’re in the top four in the Bundesliga. So, yeah, I was surprised that he made a comment like that.”

“He picked our team? Well done, Danny, well done.

“He’s going to know everything very quickly in less than a year, in the next four or five years.

“Actually, I don’t have much to comment on. I think I’ll have to sit here and see if I can find out. Maybe he’ll pick some players and I might be able to put my oars in there and find out what he’s doing.”

“Listen, what you’re saying is…I’m sorry, I can’t help but laugh. Did he make a comment about our team? Like about our team selection?”

“Extraordinary, really extraordinary. He hasn’t been in Glasgow for long.

“They can definitely (come back and bite you). There’s no need for him to comment on my team or our side.

“I think he has a very decent team, but it will be a tough battle for us. We will strive for a result, but regardless of that, we are still fighting.”

“Believe it or not, Luke[McCowan]is entitled to his comments.

“I think the games are difficult. I think every game we’ve played since coming back has been difficult. But I think what he was trying to say is that when we’re playing at our best, we’re a great team.”

Roll: We need passionate hearts and smart minds.

In Old Firm games, players are often encouraged to “play the game, not the opportunity”.

Simple advice, but not so easy to follow.

Ibrox and Celtic Park are well used to producing dead rubber derby matches at this stage of the season, and even those matches were supercharged.

Forget bragging rights, history, and hatred. Sunday’s match has something the game has lacked for years: a title shot at stake and a chance to potentially eliminate a rival.

Mr. Rohr urges, if possible, to maintain calm amidst the chaos.

“Do it with a warm heart and a wise heart,” he said.

“If we can do this, we have a big chance. We have a clear idea of ​​what we want to do and we also have some different solutions on how we can hurt them, but let’s see.

“I think it will be interesting to think ahead, playing twice in seven days, but the focus is absolutely on Sunday.

“My team has shown character and great character over the last few weeks. I also think being able to come back in the stadium after a 1-0 loss away to Celtic showed that even if the game goes in the direction you don’t want, there’s always a chance to come back.”

“For me, that was one of the biggest moments ever because we beat a big team and came back from 1-0 down.

“It helps and it gives the team belief. I think as a manager, when you make a decision and at half-time you can make a decision. And it works like this and it also helps the confidence of the players.”

“There are no question marks. The players are following our method, they are confident, they have belief. I think this is important, we have to believe.”

“I think this game isn’t about your legs, it’s about your heart, your brain and how ready you are for this moment. If you can do this, then yeah, let’s see.”

O’Neill: At 74, he still loves the Old Firm

The Celtic manager celebrates his 74th birthday on Sunday.

In the opposing dugout was a man nearly 40 years his junior who hadn’t even been born when O’Neal coached his first game.

The Northern Irishman was highly successful in this competition, winning more Old Firm games in the league (65 per cent) than any other manager who has been in charge of at least five derbies.

And his love for this rivalry will never go away.

“Obviously Old Firm matches are still special,” O’Neill added.

“I think I’ve said it before, but if we are eventually allowed to have a full complement of away fans at both venues, which I’m sure will happen in the not-too-distant future, that would be great.

“I think we are good for cup competitions, which is great, but they are definitely special.

“It’s great that people still talk about them after living in the South for so long.

“Yes, I did (enjoy the trip to Ibrox) in a perverse way, but to be honest they are still great games.

“But as the great Walter Smith once said,[these games]give you an immediate sense of relief when they’re over, especially if you get a result.

“Of course, you might feel a little bit of euphoria, but I think the best way to describe it might be a feeling of relief.

“It’s been that way ever since I played here 20, 25 years ago. So it’s always been the same.

“I also remember a year ago when we won the league and cup away. We went into pre-season and lost two pre-season games and the headlines were ‘Celtic Crisis’. We lost two pre-season games and it was great.”

“I mean, nothing’s changed. And you know what’s changed? In a lot of ways, it’s been, happily, the same. I think there’s a really great point there.”

Watch Rangers v Celtic on Sky Sports Football with the main event on Sunday at 11am kick-off and 12pm kick-off.