Goalie: Ibrox club can compete on an equal footing with the champs at Parkhead
Rangers and Celtic can go “toe-to-toe” in this Saturday’s pivotal Old Firm clash at Parkhead, according to Jack Butland.
The Hoops lead their city rivals by three points at the top of the table with three decisive Premiership matches left and a superior goal differential of five. With a 3-3 draw in Govan last month still fresh in their memories, Brendan Rodgers’ team prevailed 2-1 at Parkhead in December following their 1-0 victory at Ibrox in the season’s opening derby match. But before the game at Parkhead, which will only be attended by home supporters, the 31-year-old keeper for the Green Bay Packers feels he has seen enough in the confrontations to give him confidence.
“I think we showed that we have that fight and that energy to keep going even in the game in late December when we go down to 10 men,” he stated. The team’s level of fitness and will to keep pushing each other forward. Even if we lost that game and the most recent one, 3-3, there are indications there that we can go all the way, match up with anyone, and win. We’ve already set ourselves up for an uphill battle in those games. Thus, it’s critical that we get off to a strong start, provide ourselves with a foundation on which to play and grow, and this will greatly increase our chances of success.
Social media videos seemed to capture Butland responding to what a Rangers supporter shouted to him as he was leaving Ibrox following the team’s 4-1 victory against Kilmarnock the previous week. The England international was eager to downplay it. Since joining from Crystal Palace last summer, he has developed a strong relationship with the Light Blues fan base.
“Sometimes people overstep the mark, especially in front of children, and things aren’t acceptable, but that’s been addressed, we move on from it, and I’ve got no concerns about that going forward,” he said, referring to the size of the Rangers family and his own children.
“People who seek and expect everything from people are present whenever there are tensions. More often than not, they have no idea what’s going on. However, that’s just a normal aspect of football, to be honest. It’s not the focus of this week, and it’s not the focus of tomorrow. As I already stated, it was put to bed many days ago, so I have no anxiety about it.
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