Glasgow Derby: Brendan Rodgers Urges Celtic To Keep Calm Against Rangers

Brendan Rodgers has called on his Celtic players to maintain cool heads when they run out at Ibrox for Sunday바카라�s showdown with cinch Premiership title rivals Rangers. (More Football News)

The Hoops are a point above Gers, who have a game in hand, so the outcome of this weekend바카라�s derby is likely to have a significant bearing on the outcome of what is shaping up as the tightest championship race since the Light Blues바카라� financial implosion more than a decade ago.

However, Rodgers has told his players to focus fully on playing football and not the potential ramifications of victory or defeat.

바카라�It starts with the whole build-up,바카라� said the Hoops boss. 바카라�I think it바카라�s important not to get entrenched in the whole storyline because at times the storyline can be that 바카라�it could be a disaster바카라�.

바카라�But for me the storyline is that there is always opportunity. You arrive, you stay calm and you just look to focus on your performance."

바카라�This is one of the greatest, most iconic games in world football but you바카라�ve got to perform and you can only do that by staying calm and looking to play your football.바카라�

Rodgers 바카라� who has lost just one of his 16 matches against Rangers in his two stints as Celtic boss 바카라� insisted he has not given too much consideration to how any particular result at Ibrox might leave the title race.

바카라�I haven바카라�t over-thought it,바카라� he said. 바카라�I always prepare the team to win, I never think of drawing or losing a game. I always prepare the team to go and win the game and it바카라�s served me well especially in these types of games.

바카라�You can바카라�t win them all, of course, but the mindset is to impose ourselves on the game and then let바카라�s see where we are at at the end of it."

바카라�I always feel really comfortable coming into these (Old Firm) games but that바카라�s only on the back of preparation and the clarity we want to give to the players.

바카라�And also because of how we play. I have always been confident in that and we have come in to a lot of these big games and performed very well."

바카라�It바카라�s not always perfect but we have performed well in them.바카라�

After struggling for form at various points this term, Rodgers feels the return of key players from injury has helped Celtic regain their 바카라�authority바카라� recently.

The Hoops could be at full strength for the trip to Ibrox if captain Callum McGregor and winger Luis Palma are declared fit.

바카라�It바카라�s just having the authority back on the pitch, and you saw that at Livingston last weekend,바카라� said Rodgers.

바카라�When we are at our best, we are not giving much away whilst creating that great platform.

바카라�No matter how good you are attacking wise, it바카라�s about consistency in how you defend.

바카라�We are at our best when we are super organised and tight 바카라� and then everything is connected with and without the ball.

바카라�That will be the same on Sunday. We will be attack-minded and front foot, but attack-minded when we defend too. When we do that, we can play very well.바카라�