Brendan Rodgers spoke of the mental scars on the Rangers players on the eve of a trip to Ibrox after a succession of derby drubbings.
The former Celtic manager was able to lob in a few verbal hand grenades with a bit of pre-match psychology as the Hoops lorded it over their rivals.
What followed in that fixture in September 2017 was a routine 2-0 win during a spell when the derby was just like any other run-of-the-mill domestic fixture for Celtic.
In fact, flop boss Pedro Caixinha going nose-to-nose with Scott Brown on the touchline that day was about as much fight Gers put up.
There were a few derby humiliations around that period and that was by no means the worst - but the pain is felt more when it’s on your own patch.
A trip across the city didn’t hold any fear for Brown and Co during the first couple of seasons of Rangers ’ top flight return.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. Celtic were rubbing their hands at the prospect and relished it before revelling in some of their best derby victories.
During that 2-0 win, Leigh Griffiths incensed the home fans by appearing to wipe his nose on the corner flag having upset Gers when by tying a Celtic scarf to the goal post after a 2-1 Hogmanay win the previous year.
Brown led the celebrations in front of the Broomloan Road stand wearing SHADES after a win for Rodgers’s 10 men effectively clinched the title in March 2018.
And then there was the ignominy of a heaviest ever defeat at home to their fierce rivals with full back Mikael Lustig even dancing round the defence like Lionel Messi to score in a 5-1 romp.
Witnessing Celtic lap up their victories became so bad that it contributed to the shock decision for the Ibrox club to slash the away allocation for the Old Firm derby, a move reciprocated by Hoops chiefs.
That coincided with the arrival of Steven Gerrard as Rangers boss who has helped heal those psychological scars Rodgers spoke of.
And as Celtic prepare to travel to the home of their rivals for the traditional Ne’erday derby clash it is the champions who have most reason to be fearful.
Trailing Gerrard’s men by a staggering 16 points, albeit with three games in hand, it is a must-win to keep alive their 10-in-a-row hopes.
Rangers strolled to victory at Parkhead in the first meeting of the two Glasgow giants this season and are heavy favourites for another win.
But while three points is the priority, it’s about more than just that for the Light Blues. Former Celtic star Kris Commons said earlier this week: “I believe Steven Gerrard will want his players to make a statement.
“They will want to rub Celtic’s nose in it and kill off any lingering chance of a title race. They will see it as an opportunity to bury their rivals once and for all this season and put the final nail in the coffin.”
If this game was taking place a month ago few would have bet against anything other than a home win but Celtic have recovered and Gers aren’t swatting away their rivals with the same ease as they were.
But there is still enough of a vulnerability about Neil Lennon’s men defensively that could see them exposed and it’s a question of whether Gers have the mentality and desire to really go for the jugular as payback for those Ibrox humiliations.
