It may be hard for those fans who are so invested in the rivalry to fathom, but often, players and even managers from either side of the Old Firm can be fast friends.
Such is the case when it comes to Celtic’s record signing Arne Engels and Rangers manager Philippe Clement, with the pair raising some eyebrows when they were pictured sharing a warm embrace prior to the recent match between the sides at Celtic Park.
Clement was something of a mentor figure to Engels when the Belgian youngster worked under his charge at Club Brugge, but those old fraternal bonds gave way immediately as soon as the whistle blew.
Engels laughed when the exchange was brought up at his official unveiling yesterday, saying that Clement had been wishing him luck at his new club, but just not too much.
“Yes, exactly like that!” Engels said.
“But it’s always a bit joking. We managed to win and that’s the most important thing, I think.
“Of course, he helped me also in my development as a youth player at Brugge. So, he was good for me then.
“But now I am a Celtic player, and I will always do everything I can to beat everybody.
“So, yes, obviously, that is my aim.”
Whether Clement’s handshake was quite as warm after Engels came on to make his debut in Celtic’s 3-0 demolition of their city rivals, we may never know. Frankly, the midfielder has had other things on his mind in any case.
The move to Celtic was just one part of a whirlwind summer for Engels, who was called off his sunbed to join the Belgian squad for the European Championships on a training brief, before finally making his debut for his country against Israel last week.
“I didn’t know I would be called up [for the Euros], so it was a bit of a surprise,” he said.
“I was on holiday in Ibiza with some friends when the call came through.”
Unlike many a scallywag footballer from our own neck of the woods though, you get the impression from the laidback Engels that he wasn’t exactly being dragged away from all-nighters at Café Mambo.
“It was a relaxing holiday, so it was okay!” he said.
“I flew home directly and went to the national team. I was really happy to get the call.
“It wasn’t like being really called up, but just to participate in the training, but even so it was a great opportunity to see how they trained and worked tactically before the Euros.
“That also made it easier for me to go into the real squad last week. I knew everyone already.”
Among those players he was working with was the great Kevin De Bruyne, a role model and a source of invaluable knowledge for Engels to tap into, rather than someone he is putting himself under any undue pressure to emulate.
“They are all normal guys, they talk to everyone and there are a lot of young guys in there as well,” he said.
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“I knew a few of them from the youth academies and national teams. It felt easy to go into that team and you see the quality of them in training as well. You can see how they manage things, and you learn a lot from them.
“That is what I want to be part of. We have a very good squad and a lot of young players who are still learning a lot. I think we have a lot of promising guys who will be very good players. It’s an exciting time for us.
“We also still have guys like de Bruyne. You see what he does in training and in games. That is something you want to learn from and add to your game.
“He’s the captain and takes to everyone. It makes it easier when everyone is communicating and helping each other.”
Now that he is back in Glasgow, Engels is hoping to quickly become more acquainted with both his new teammates and his new fans.
He is also hoping to give the Celtic supporters plenty of reason to air the ditty they have penned for him, a custom version of the Robbie Williams hit and family function staple ‘Angels’.
“I saw some comments about that under my picture [on social media], so that would be really nice, I’d love that!! he said.
"It would be amazing.”
He would maybe be less keen though to show off his own vocal talents if his new teammates spring an initiation on him. When asked if they had one lined up, he said: “Not that I know of! And I hope not!
“I don’t know, but if it comes then I’ll do it, and it will be enjoyable for the guys to laugh a bit with me. It’s a good squad, but we haven’t had time for that yet.
“It was only my second day in training today, so I haven’t had a lot of time to speak to anyone for a really long time or anything, it’s just been quick chats with everybody.
“It’s an amazing squad actually, everybody is young and also speaking English it is much easier for me to come in and enjoy my time here.”
