Ange Postecoglou: Only ‘small teams’ want to beat some clubs more than others

Celtic boss urges respect for all opponents and reveals when Old Firm clashes get "ramped up"

Ange Postecoglou has urged his Celtic players to respect all opponents, regardless of their size or stature, after being asked about the upcoming Old Firm clash with Rangers. The Celtic boss was speaking at a press conference ahead of the game, and he was keen to stress that his team would not be taking their opponents lightly.

"We have to respect every opponent"

"We have to respect every opponent," Postecoglou said. "I don't think there's any such thing as a small team. Every team has their own strengths and weaknesses, and we have to be prepared for anything."

Postecoglou also revealed that the Old Firm clashes are always "ramped up" because of the rivalry between the two clubs.

"The Old Firm games are always ramped up"

"The Old Firm games are always ramped up," Postecoglou said. "There's a lot of history and passion involved, and that makes them special. But we have to make sure that we don't get caught up in the emotion of the occasion and that we focus on playing our own game."

Celtic will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership when they face Rangers on Sunday. The Hoops are currently four points clear of their rivals, and a win would give them a significant advantage in the title race.

Celtic's recent form is strong

Celtic have been in good form in recent weeks, winning their last six games in all competitions. They have also scored 20 goals in those six games, and they will be confident of causing Rangers problems on Sunday.

Rangers, meanwhile, have been in less impressive form. They have won just two of their last six games, and they were knocked out of the Scottish League Cup by Hibernian last week.

Rangers are struggling for form

Rangers will be looking to bounce back from that disappointment when they face Celtic, but they will need to improve their form if they are to have any chance of winning the game.

The Old Firm clash is always a close-fought affair, and it is sure to be another exciting encounter on Sunday.