Massimo Donati knows all about the title race going down to the wire and reckons it’s Europa League-chasing Rangers who can’t afford to trip up this weekend.
Celtic are three points ahead of their rivals with the old rivals set to meet on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash.
Former Hoops ace Donati knows this latest derby is a big one and the pressure is on Gers as they try to use home advantage to get back in the title race.
The Italian also knows there will be added pressure on the Light Blues because they are also trying to juggle the demands of an extended Europa League run as well, with a quarter-final clash with Braga to come next month.
It mirrors 2007-08, when in Donati’s first season with Celtic they clinched the title on the final day, amidst the “sporting integrity” talk as Rangers ran out of steam on the back of their back-breaking run to the UEFA Cup Final.
He said: “It’s great when you have Celtic and Rangers going for the title like this season. It’s a very similar situation to my first season at Celtic.
“Celtic are ahead just now and if they can beat Rangers in the next game then it would put them in a strong position.
“Rangers were also in Europe then as well, but we just had to focus on ourselves and win our own games and that is exactly what we did.
“We couldn’t listen to the noise or what was going on outside. We just had to take care of our own games and we knew everything else would take care of itself, which it did.
“We also beat Rangers in the final Old Firm game and that was big and gave us the impetus. We went on a run and won our games which was impressive.
“If the current Celtic team can do the same then I’m confident there will be a similar outcome.”
Ange Postecoglou ’s side have certainly built up their own impetus after he totally rebuilt his squad and watched his team step above Rangers.
They are 31 domestic games unbeaten and easily saw off their rivals last time out at Parkhead.
Donati is in no doubt it will also give Celtic the edge knowing that all their focus will be homing in on the title while Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team also have to worry about Europe and the domestic scene.
He claimed: “It will help Celtic this season like it did our team when Rangers went all the way to the UEFA Cup final.
“It will be a bigger challenge for Rangers because they have the same domestic games as Celtic but then they will also have European games on top of that. That’s a big challenge.
“The European games take a lot out of you physically and mentally and it gets tougher and tougher the further you go in these competitions.
“The Italian teams have the same problems when they have to play midweek, weekend and midweek again. That’s why I think Celtic have the advantage.
“Celtic need to approach it the same way as we did. They just need to stay focused, win their games and forget about everything else, then everything else will take care of itself.”
Donati’s side actually had a title wobble as they lost the March trip to Ibrox and then lost at home to Motherwell.
The Italian had a falling out with manager Gordon Strachan as well in the run-in but was never going to rock the boat because he knew title was the most important thing.
He said: “I remember the run because I didn’t play in all the games because I had a little problem with Gordon.
“That was important at the time because all my focus was on trying to win the league. I remember we went on a good run after we had lost those games. The team was more important than me individually.“
It forced Strachan’s side into action as they won their last seven games, including a 3-2 home win over Rangers.
The title was clinched on a nervy final day thanks to a Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink winner at Dundee United.
Donati admitted: “It went down to that last game and we knew if we beat United then we were champions. Yes, there was big pressure but there should always be a pressure when you play for Celtic. It was a big game both physically and mentally. Thankfully, Jan Vessegoor of Hesselink scored the winner and ensured we were champions.
“When you win the last game it brings a big party.”
It was another helicopter Sunday but this time it was the Celtic party that spun into life.
Donati said: “It was brilliant going back on the coach to Celtic Park and that day will always live with me.
“For me, it was my first season at Celtic in Scotland. I was the first time I had battled for a title. It was good and emotional.
“It was great when we went to Dundee United and we had to win.
“I remember the helicopter had the trophy in it and thankfully it landed at Tannadice.
“After we won it, it was very, very nice because it was the first time I had won the league.
“It was a great experience and it could be the same for a lot of the new Celtic.
“I still have my title medal at my mum and dad’s house and I look at it proudly every time I go round.”
