1) Dembélé is in the shop window
It remains a point of fascination as to where Moussa Dembélé will continue his career and how much of the speculation as to how many tens of millions the Celtic striker should command by way of a transfer fee is borne out by reality. It is impossible to ignore the standard Dembélé plays against in Scotland but he clearly has the attributes to play at a considerably higher level.
Anyone watching his ineffectual performance at Ross County last week would scoff at the prospect of him being worth £30m but the 20-year-old, like Celtic as a whole, could be forgiven for winding down with the league title already secured. With youth, too, comes inevitable inconsistency.
The bad news for Rangers is that Dembélé tends to reserve his best performances for marquee occasions. Manchester City encountered that much in the Champions League, just as Rangers suffered on account of a Dembélé hat-trick last September. When the Old Firm met on New Year’s Eve, Dembélé created the platform for Celtic’s win with an outstanding finish. When the old foes met on League Cup semi-final business, Dembélé was Celtic’s matchwinner.
Clubs with more than a passing interest in Dembélé will inevitably focus on what he delivers at Hampden.
2) Caixinha can buy vital time with a win
Rangers’ recently appointed head coach has to recognise one thing; what his predecessor, Mark Warburton, did against Celtic in three matches this season cannot be replicated. Rangers did not win any of those games, after all. Recent off-field chaos doesn’t matter; it isn’t a long-term option for a Rangers manager to keep losing games to Celtic.
Pedro Caixinha watched from the stand as Rangers earned a worthy draw at Celtic Park last month. Celtic have better players, particularly in attacking areas, than their city rivals; his task is not only to nullify that potency but find a way for Rangers to offer more in the final third. Caixinha should already have identified the Celtic central defence as prone to error but taking advantage of such shortcomings will require Rangers to be more ruthless. In 33 league matches, Rangers have scored 48 goals, 39 fewer than Celtic.
The Portuguese has encountered mixed results thus far – draws with Motherwell and Kilmarnock offset by a fine win in Aberdeen – but can afford himself fresh status in event of a Scottish Cup upset. Should he negotiate a path to the final, Caixinha will have bought himself time and a key victory against those who poured scorn on his appointment.
3) Weight of history adds to Celtic pressure
The presumption that Rangers provide the stiffest challenge to Celtic’s hopes of claiming a domestic clean sweep isn’t borne out by this season. The Old Firm don’t joust like they used to.
Likewise, the external judgment that Celtic winning every major trophy in Scotland is akin to someone beating their pet hamster at snooker is contradicted by reality. Celtic have won the treble three times in their history, with even Rangers’ tally of seven a tiny number in context of supposed Old Firm dominance throughout history.
As we approach the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s finest hour, the claiming of the European Cup, it would seem fitting if further history was made. Yet that brings pressure, as does a strangely poor recent Celtic record over recent years at Hampden Park.
This match has significance for Celtic beyond a potential final appearance and, though many won’t acknowledge it, local bragging rights.
4) Derby will lift lid on Rangers’ needs
The obsession with how much Rangers will or can spend in the transfer market is due in no small part to grand claims by their chairman, Dave King, which haven’t been backed up by events. There has also been vast overstatement of how much Rangers need invest in players to put in a more serious challenge to Celtic than has been the case this season. Celtic signed Dembélé and Scott Sinclair, their key summer acquisitions, for a combined £4m. Even with wages attached, this is hardly fiscal largesse.
Nothing focuses attention on what may or may not be required like a meeting with age-old adversaries. How big is the gap and what is needed to bridge it? Over the next week – Rangers host Celtic on league business next Saturday – Caixinha will either be afforded hope that those players at his disposal can progress into next season or a harsh lesson that considerable squad surgery is needed.
5) Collum must justify paymasters’ faith
The early part of Old Firm week was dominated by the dive by Ross County’s Alex Schalk that earned a penalty against Celtic and the wild challenge from the Celtic captain, Scott Brown, to trigger a red card in the same game. As is well within their rights, Celtic used a Scottish FA timing loophole to ensure Brown is free to face Rangers.
When Celtic last met Rangers, the non-award of a last-minute penalty was blasted by Brendan Rodgers. Since moving north, Rodgers has made a series of statements regarding officiating standards.
For far too long, Willie Collum’s uncanny ability to court controversy with bewildering decisions was a post‑match narrative. In his defence, the referee’s performances have improved since an appearance at Euro 2016.
This marks a key juncture for Collum. In a match where attention is so fierce and, being blunt, players will do anything they can to gain an advantage he needs to be at the peak of his powers. Collum’s paymasters have been bold in giving him this marquee fixture; the problem is there can be no guarantees as to how he will respond.
