{"id":346308,"date":"2025-10-31T19:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T19:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346308\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T19:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T19:59:09","slug":"martin-oneill-on-what-he-remembers-about-facing-rangers-ahead-of-first-meeting-in-20-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/346308\/","title":{"rendered":"Martin O’Neill on what he remembers about facing Rangers ahead of first meeting in 20 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Martin O\u2019Neill has been looking ahead to his first Glasgow derby in 20 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celtic<\/a> play Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup<\/a> semi-final this weekend, with both sides one game away from competing for the first domestic trophy of the season.<\/p>\n

There will be new faces in the dugout at both ends as O\u2019Neill<\/a> returned on an interim basis to replace Brendan Rodgers<\/a> while Danny Rohl has taken over from Russell Martin. <\/p>\n

For the 73-year-old, playing Rangers is familiar territory, and it is fair to say that the Northern Irishman can\u2019t wait to go up against his long-time rivals.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill excited to face Rangers<\/p>\n

Only Rodgers has a better record than O\u2019Neill against Rangers<\/a>, and even with all of the change in the past few days, the Hoops will be the favourites.<\/p>\n

Stepping out at Hampden Park<\/a> in a Glasgow derby<\/a> is a tantalising prospect, and one that O\u2019Neill is relishing.<\/p>\n

He began with a light joke, saying: \u201cIf I had seen the fixture list I probably would\u2019ve stayed at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always a great one and I\u2019m genuinely looking forward to it now \u2013 or I think I am anyway.<\/p>\n

\n

“If i had seen [the fixture list] I probably would have stayed at home” \ud83d\ude06<\/p>\n

Celtic interim manger Martin O’Neill reflects on previous encounters with Rangers ahead of their League Cup semi-final match. pic.twitter.com\/IYuWwUCKBP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 31, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do I remember? Lots of nervousness from about 72 hours before and if you got the result, a great relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were fantastic fixtures when the stadiums had the full allocation of away support.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always felt going to Ibrox that our crowd would help us, as I\u2019m sure Alex McLeish would\u2019ve probably said about the Rangers crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Neill then admitted that he would be quite happy with a boring victory if it meant his side were in the final by full time.<\/p>\n

\u201cReplicating that [6-2] will be extremely difficult. I would settle for a really lousy 1-0 victory. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat 6-2 win really gave us a springboard as in November Rangers took us apart at Ibrox. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a phenomenal fixture, even now.\u201d<\/p>\n