Celtic Must Embrace Raw Mentality Against Rangers in Old Firm Derby

Mika Baur insists Celtic cannot “pretty” their way out of trouble in Sunday’s Old Firm derby – and says only raw mentality and energy will be enough to hit back against Rangers at Celtic Park.

Martin O’Neill’s side were humbled 3-0 in the League Cup at Ibrox last weekend, a bruising defeat that dumped them out of the competition and handed their Glasgow rivals a surge of momentum. The same teams collide again on Sunday, this time in the white‑hot glare of a packed Premiership crowd in the east end of the city.

This time, it’s Celtic’s turn to have the stands to themselves.

From hostile Ibrox to a one-sided roar

Baur, who felt the full force of a 50,000-strong Ibrox last week, knows exactly what awaits – and what must change.

“You could feel it's a special thing there [Old Firm game],” he said, reflecting on the away loss. “It was like 50,000 people against you, you should handle that. And on Sunday it's completely different.

“We have 60,000 on our side, so we should use that. We need everyone.”

The midfielder wants that home advantage turned into something far more than noise. He wants it to become fuel.

“We players will give 100 per cent on the field and we need everybody else to get that energy back and win on Sunday.”

You will not win it with beautiful football

Baur’s message to the dressing room and the stands is blunt. Forget style points. This derby, in his eyes, will be decided in the duels and in the running, not in the passing patterns.

“I've said a couple of times now, stick together again, get the energy level, really, really high on Sunday,” he said.

“You will not win it with beautiful football and nice play.

“Maybe you will score through it, but you will win the game on Sunday with a mentality and with energy and that's what everybody should bring into the match.”

He still wants Celtic to look like Celtic on the ball, but not at the cost of the basics.

“Sure you want to win. That's the first thing and in a couple of months, no one asks how you won. You want to play attractive football, if you want to do good with the ball, against the ball.

“Tactics are really important, but as we all saw last Sunday, it was not about that. It was about tackling back, to run back. It was about that and we should bring that on Sunday.

“You don't want to stop playing good with the ball.

“It's more about the energy, it's more about the mentality on Sunday, but it should be a good mix.”

Celtic were outmuscled and outworked at Ibrox. On Sunday, with 60,000 behind them and Rangers locked out of Parkhead, Baur is demanding a response that starts in the legs and in the head – not just in the playbook.