Martin O'Neill believes Rangers boss Michael Beale needs to lay down a marker by guiding Rangers to victory in Sunday’s ViaPlay Cup final at Hampden Park.
The former Celtic and Republic of Ireland boss also told Beale that it’s “too bad” he finds Chris Sutton irritating after the Rangers manager became embroiled in a war of words with the ex-Celtic striker and hard-hitting pundit.
Despite winning 13 matches and drawing one – a 2-2 against Celtic at Ibrox – since taking over the hot seat at Ibrox, Beale has been unable to make a dent in the Hoops’ nine-point lead at the top of the cinch Premiership with the reigning champions looking likely to retain their crown.
READ MORE: Chris Sutton hits back at Michael Beale over 'worst ever player to play for Chelsea' comment
O’Neill was Parkhead boss between 2000 and 2005 where he won three titles, three Scottish Cups and a League Cup – winning the domestic treble in his first season – while also guiding Celtic to the 2003 UEFA Cup final.
He believes Beale needs to land a blow on Parkhead counterpart Ange Postecoglou by winning the cup, the first piece of silverware of the season up for grabs.
O’Neill told talkSPORT: “I think so, I do. Since he has gone up there the results have been fine.
“Rangers haven’t closed the gap but they have kept it there because both teams have been winning football matches.
“But this is big. This is really big for Rangers.
“They are trying to win a trophy, they are trying to break Celtic’s control of Scotland at this minute.
“Postecoglou has done fantastically well and I have to say this is really big for Rangers.”
Beale described Sutton as the "worst ever player" for Chelsea after the 49-year-old questioned if Rangers would of allowed Celtic to walk the ball into the net against them like they did against Partick Thistle.
But O'Neill has warned Beale that his former striker isn't going to change for anyone.
He added: “Michael said something about Chris being a failure at Chelsea - which he was - but he was absolutely fantastic for me at Celtic. He changed his whole game and sometimes I don’t give him the credit he deserves because he was a major signing for is and his partnership with Henrik Larsson was absolutely amazing, not just in the Scottish scene but the European scene as well.
“It’s funny about Chris because as a player he said one thing you’ll never find him doing is being a pundit once his career was over but in actual fact Chris is everywhere just now and I checked up Radio Mars and I think I heard him on there. Chris is getting up a few people’s noses. I suppose for Beale he’ll find him irritating but too bad, it’s the way it is and Chris isn’t going to change for anyone.”
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