Rangers boss says he will not miss Old Firm circus
Rangers manager Walter Smith has said that he will not miss Old Firm match days when he retires at the end of the season.
The rivalry between the Scottish Premier League giants and Celtic is one of the most fierce in all of world football. Every match between the two is put under intense focus by the media and with both clubs and their supporters desperate to claim bragging
rights, each Old Firm derby is a hotly contested affair.
While victory at Parkhead on Sunday, 24 October, will put Smith ahead of Jock Stein and Scot Symon in the number of wins in the contest, he said that the matches are anxious occasions.
The fact that both sides have a 100 per cent start to their league season has added extra spice to the contest as something will have to give.
Rangers, meanwhile, have the added boost of a strong UEFA Champions League run with solid results against Manchester United, Turkish champions Bursaspor and a 1-1 draw with La Liga outfit Valencia on Wednesday.
'A kind of nervy day'
Smith told reporters that: "I must admit it's a kind of nervy day. I think the way both teams have started the season, both seem to be playing confidently and will be looking forward to Sunday's game. Both teams have every right to be confident. Maybe because
of the fact we've both won eight games, this year's four Old Firm games will take on an added importance.
"There may not be as many points dropped — there're certain to be points dropped — but maybe not as many as the past. We'd both dropped far more points last season."
Neil Lennon has won every league game since taking over from the sacked Tony Mowbray in March, including the final Old Firm derby of last season. Lennon also oversaw a major overhaul of the squad over the summer which, despite not leading the club to successful
qualification for European competition, has helped Celtic to win all of their SPL games this season.
Smith praises Celtic boss
As a result of Lennon’s impressive start to his reign as Celtic boss, Smith took the time to praise his opposite number.
He said that: “He made a very brave decision to turn round a whole bunch of players. Normally they take a while to settle in and you might expect in the first period of the season a bit of inconsistency, but there they are sitting on exactly the same number
of points as ourselves.
"So it's great credit to him that he's managed to settle his squad down and win all the matches they've played in the league so far. The European games might have come a bit early for a brand new team, but he's got them settled in a domestic sense, so they'll
be hoping to take advantage of being at home. I think the home games for both teams could be important."
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