rangers - celtic
The focus in the build-up to the second Old Firm league meeting this season has firmly been on Rangers manager Alex McLeish's future at Ibrox.
Defeat in the recent CIS Insurance Cup tie at Celtic looked to have spelled the end of McLeish's reign but with vital Champions League games following on from Saturday's trip across Glasgow, chairman David Murray announced:
"The manager should be given the opportunity to improve our overall current performance, given the success of his career thus far.
"We will review progress at the start of December and assess at that time."
An honest statement from Murray but not one that was designed to end the speculation about a potential successor to McLeish.
Alan Curbishley, Paul le Guen, Ottmar Hitzfeld, George Burley and more have been linked with the job while a reported move for David Moyes met with this response from
Everton spokesman Ian Ross:
"We have not had any contact from Rangers nor would we welcome any."
McLeish himself has remained dignified throughout, acknowledging that being Rangers' manager means success is expected, not hoped for, but still proud of what he has achieved during his time at Ibrox with seven trophies in four years:
"My worst nightmare would have been not to have won any silverware, but we have shown our resilience and determination in that regard," he told UEFA Champions League magazine.
"I don't think I could ever let anyone take away the success I've had at Rangers domestically.
"But, from the point of view of people outside looking in, I know that doing well in Europe reflects well on the club and the manager."
The focus on the blue half of the city has enabled Celtic to have a low-key build-up to Saturday's game.
Gordon Strachan, seemingly under pressure himself after a nightmare start to his time as Celtic manager, has guided his team to the top of the SPL and the CIS Cup semi-finals after getting that all-important first win against the old rivals.
Young star Aiden McGeady looks set to play on Saturday after an impressive display in that League Cup game but knows it will not be easy:
"When we played Rangers in August, and lost, things still weren't going well but we've improved rapidly since then.
"I'd expect that with us being top of the league we may be described by some people as favourites for the Old Firm match - but you never know how these games will turn out."
And with last season's last-day drama, when Rangers pipped Celtic to the title, still fresh in the memory, striker John Hartson has other things on his mind than adding to his goal tally:
"I'd like to think I'd be up there challenging [as top goalscorer] but my main target for this season - my only target, really - is to get the title back.
"The way last season ended was a massive kick in the teeth for everyone at the club and it's incredibly frustrating to know we gifted a championship that should have been ours to the club's biggest rivals."
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