Pressure not heightened for Old Firm match, insists Celtic boss Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers is relaxed about the expectations heaped upon Celtic going into the Old Firm game against Rangers on Saturday.
The Hoops are overwhelming favourites to win the first league fixture between the two clubs at Celtic Park in four years.
Rodgers, who took over in the summer and who will be involved in the fixture for the first time, said: "When you are Celtic and you play every game, especially at home, (winning) is what is expected of you. We are not running away to say that we don't want to be the favourites for the game.
"Whether we were playing Rangers, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Hearts, whoever we play at home, the objective going into the game is to win.
"It's a huge game, a big game, but one that we want to win, like every game at Celtic Park.
"More importantly, the way the team is playing, the energy and ambition of the team has given the supporters something to be proud of so far and, as I said, the atmosphere will be incredible.
"Every derby is different. Having experienced derbies before there is a uniqueness to each one and this is iconic throughout the world and one that I am really looking forward to."
Kenny Miller insists he had unwavering confidence that Rangers would beat Celtic at Hampden last season - and he retains full belief in their potential as a squad ahead of the latest derby.
Much has changed since Rangers knocked Celtic out of the William Hill Scottish Cup on penalties at the semi-final stage.
The Ibrox side have struggled to regain last season's panache after making 11 signings while the champions have made less changes but so far achieved better advances.
Rangers have drawn two of their first four Ladbrokes Premiership games and won the other two narrowly, but Miller's belief in Mark Warburton's managerial methods is unshakeable.
The former Celtic and Scotland striker said of the semi-final: "I really believed, hand on heart, that we would win that game, and I thought we would have won it well.
"And I think the performance showed that, I really felt we deserved to win it.
"We have got a confidence, we have a confidence in what the manager wants us to do. We have just not put it together as much this season as last season.
"Whether that's the increased level of opposition, or whether that's trying to bed new signings, we have turned over 20 players in the last two summers.
"That's a lot of lads to come in and gel. It always takes time, this season has just taken a little bit longer."
Source: PAR
