Celtic filled Rangers with fear at Hampden. With so much at stake, Ange Postecoglou’s men had the strut and their rivals looked scared.
But it’s a totally different ball game today. Michael Beale and his team have absolutely nothing to lose. The shackles are surely off and the strain released. Which makes them a hugely dangerous proposition for the champions-elect. When it came to crunch in the Viaplay Cup Final, Rangers didn’t have the balls. Literally.
I thought they played with a fear in the Viaplay Final, especially in a first-half when Celtic were completely dominant. Only when the game was gone at 2-0 down did they flick off the chains and actually take part in the contest. In some ways, they set themselves up for that fall. They had talked the talk beforehand, but, ultimately, they didn’t walk the walk.
Today’s match is different, though. In terms of the title race, it’s like when the game was 2-0 at Hampden. It’s gone, it’s just about over. Celtic can put it to bed full stop by 2.30pm this afternoon. If they win, they’d be as well declaring as they do in cricket and just handing Postecoglou the trophy again.
That’s where psychology comes into it. Rangers have absolutely nothing to lose in the East End at lunchtime because everyone thinks the league is done.
I know people are saying the pressure is all on Rangers because they have to win. but in many respects it simplifies matters for them and takes away stress. No overthinking it. They can’t be scared and cagey and must surely play only one way as they know what they have to do. They’ll have to take the game to Celtic as they have to win.
It’s like the final 30 minutes of the last Premiership meeting last season when Rangers threw caution to the wind and Fashion Sakala, after scoring an equaliser, hit a post when he really should have won the game for his team. With the title just about gone, they had to go for it.
That’s what makes the similar dynamic of this game so appealing and exciting. Everyone knows that Celtic have spectacular pace and lethal counter-attacking weapons to go with their talent.
Postecoglou’s side get better as an offensive unit with the more spaces that are available. They can rip sides apart.
Against almost every opponent on their own patch domestically, that opportunity is not available to them. Teams are camped in against them trying to defend the edge of their own box and Celiac have to find different ways to pick apart backlines.
The way I see it, Celtic would be delighted if Rangers tried to have a go. Tried to open up and attack the game, as they surely have to do.
Michael Beale has worked hard to get to this position and has a reputation of being a very gifted and talented coach. He might have said some rookie things when he started out in the job, but the results in the games which have not involved Celtic have been impressive.
But this is his acid tactical test. He failed it at Hampden. He got it wrong on the day and Postecoglou’s men spent the first half an hour meticulously working out the failing strategy before ripping it apart and securing the trophy.
Beale’s team could easily lose again. But he can’t fail the tactical test again or questions will be asked.
How does he find the formula to get after Celtic without exposing a backline which has been destroyed plenty at Parkhead by Postecoglou’s rapid raiders.
It comes down to one key facet. Is the Rangers press going to be better than Celtic’s build up play? If it’s not, then they could be in a lot of bother.
Rangers have to be brave and bold if they want to win this game, but that comes with an extremely high element of risk.
As I said, Celtic are at their best when there’s space to exploit and Rangers won’t want to get humiliated.
Postecoglou’s team have done it to them before on their own patch, admittedly before Beale’s arrival into the hotseat.
You look back at all the talk before that League Cup Final and the lucky manager stuff and a whole lot else and he left Hampden with his tail between his legs as his team simply did not turn up until the green and white ribbons were already being tied to the silver.
I don’t know if the lucky stuff was just an attempt to win over some of the Rangers supporters, but I think it was a massive mistake and I think Beale would now admit it was a mistake as well.
It was disrespectful to a manager who has a track record over more than 25 years. If he has learned from that, then all well and good.
More importantly, he needs to learn from Hampden. I think that defeat really hurt him and Rangers and, once again in the build up to this one, we’re hearing players talking about the gap not being not that big.
They have to prove that and they Beale has to prove that. The performance at Ibrox in January was better, but the fact of the matter is Celtic didn’t turn up for the last hour of an away Old Firm game and still Rangers couldn’t beat them.
We’ve heard it all before about new Rangers managers raising the standards, we’re going to bring back the brogues and the suits and whatever. Then they lose and the banners are out and the fans are up in arms again. That’s how important these games are and Postecoglou has mastered them. He knows he’s got Rangers right where he wants them.
Beale’s team need to come up with something special. These are the games you are judged upon and the million dollar question is are Rangers good enough to take on Celtic?
Most observers going into it would suggest no. So it’s up to Beale to change that narrative or else Postecoglou will tonight be toasting a fourth trophy out of five since moving to Celtic.
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