Relax And Enjoy The Game

28 February 2010 05:25
The Old Firm derby is always touted as being a high pressure game. Just imagine what it is like to play in one for the first time. Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel is looking forward to today's Old Firm game and has advised his team-mates who are to experience the atmosphere for the first time to "enjoy" the trip to Ibrox.  Edson Braafheid, Diomansy Kamara, Robbie Keane, Morten Rasmussen, Thomas Rogne, Josh Thompson and Ki Sung-Yueng could all make their debut in an Old Firm game although there are doubts over the fitness of Braafheid and Keane. Hinkel believes those team-mates who will experience a Glasgow derby for the first time should relish the occasion. He said: "I would tell them to enjoy it. That is my advice. It is an honour to play for Celtic in an Old Firm game and yes, you can enjoy it. You play football to play in games like this, it is one of the biggest games in football. It is different from any other game. The atmosphere is greater, everything is louder and more intense and so you have to control yourself and be calm. It is not easy in situations like this but you have to be positive. But I would say to them 'enjoy it' and try to do their best for the supporters and the club." Mowbray admits too much inexperience in an Old Firm derby is less than ideal but urged his debutants to be positive. Mowbray said: "There could be a few making their Old Firm debut and I expect them to look forward to it. We have to do the preparation and make sure the debutants know who they are playing against but they have got to do it themselves. It is a great learning curve for them and playing in an Old Firm game is something that no-one can ever take away from them. In an ideal world you wouldn't be throwing your youngsters in to this game but we will play a team who we believe will go and ask questions of Rangers. We understand that they are a strong side. They have found some good consistency and have made life difficult for us. But let's hope it is a good game, a good spectacle and the best team wins." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net) Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net) This is Scottish-Fitba.Net

Source: FOOTYMAD