John Lundstram says Rangers can prove in Saturday’s Old Firm derby that the gap between them and Celtic ISN’T that big.
The Ibrox midfielder is adamant Michael Beale’s side must turn up for the Premiership showdown at Parkhead next weekend. And Lundstram is convinced that if they play to their potential, they can And a win for Ange Postecoglou’s men in the derby would all but retain their league crown.
Lundstram wants to make amends for their Viaplay Cup Final defeat to Celtic at Hampden. And the Scouser insists if they play to form, they’ll show the sides aren’t so far apart. Lundstram said: “We’ve got to keep on fighting to try and draw back some points. But we have to perform better than we did in the Cup Final. The gap looked a lot bigger that day because we weren’t great and they played well. So we must put up a better showing.
“If we do that you’ll see the gap probably isn’t as big as what people make it out to be. We’ll speak internally about our game plan. But we need to put up a better fight and show better quality on the ball than we did in the past. Our past results at Parkhead haven’t been good enough. So we need to put on a better show.”
Meanwhile, Ibrox boss Michael Beale wants Lundstram and his team-mates to turn on the style at Celtic Park. Beale saw his side rack up three more points yesterday with a 2-0 win over Dundee United, thanks to a double from Malik Tillman. In Beale’s 20 games in charge, Gers have won 18 but drawn with Celtic in the league and lost to their bitter rivals in the Viaplay Cup Final.
Now, he wants them to impose their game on Celtic on their own turf. Beale said: “We need to make a statement every week here. I get it, it’s a big game. It’s nothing more than three points right now – but we need to prove something to ourselves.
“We need to prove we can play our fluid football in that game. I haven’t seen that as much as I’ve wanted to against Celtic. We need to be decisive in both boxes next week. In big games, that’s what it comes down to.”
Rangers had to break down Dundee United’s defensive line at Ibrox, with on-loan Tillman the difference-maker. But Beale says his team will have more room to strut their stuff at Parkhead.
He said: “Next week will be a different game. Hopefully we’ll have more spaces to play in. We’ll have a different selection but our form in the league has set us up for this game.”
Tillman was Rangers’ star man in keeper Allan McGregor’s landmark 500th game for the club.
Rangers have an exclusive option to buy the 20-year-old USA star if Bayern Munich are willing to let him go.
Beale is desperate to land £5m-rated Tillman on a permanent deal and revealed talks are on-going between Ibrox sporting director Ross Wilson and Bayern.
He said: “There were more talks over the international break. Malik enjoys playing here. Am I getting the feeling he wants to be here next season? Yeah. Everything is positive around the boy just now.”
READ NEXT:
