Michael Beale has been told by ex-Celtic manager Martin O'Neill that he must land a blow on Celtic on Sunday.
It is the Viaplay Cup final that Beale will be contesting against his Glasgow counterpart Ange Postecoglou as the league scenario means Rangers are nine points behind their rivals but have the chance to win the first available trophy of the season in a blockbuster showdown this weekend. O'Neill won the same competition only once during his successful tenure at Parkhead.
But the ex-Celtic gaffer is instructing the Englishman to know it is a 'really, really big game' for his side and insists they haven't quite closed the gap on their rivals but that both teams have been on good form.
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He told talkSPORT when asked if Beale must win: “I think so. Since he’s gone up there the results have been fine. Rangers haven’t closed the gap but they’ve kept it there because both teams have been winning their football matches but this is big, really, really big for Rangers - they’re trying to win a trophy
“They’re trying to end Celtic’s control off Scottish football the minute. Ange Postecoglou has done fantastically well."
He added when asked if he misses it: "How could you not miss this? The Old Firm games are simply are in another planet and Celtic Park on a European night is a different stratosphere.”
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