Barry Ferguson reveals what has left him ‘absolutely sick’ about Rangers vs Celtic

Barry Ferguson has urged Rangers to adopt a more aggressive approach when they return to Celtic Park for Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

Rangers head into the latest meeting with their Glasgow rivals having already secured a convincing victory over Celtic this season. Derek McInnes’ side ran out 3-0 winners at Ibrox in the League Cup, with Dan Neil scoring twice and Kevin Kelsy also finding the net.

The teams will meet again on 20 September, although the venue will switch to Celtic Park for the latest Scottish Premiership encounter.

Rangers will be looking to reproduce that performance and claim another important result as the early stages of the title race begin to take shape.

Ferguson knows the fixture well after making 424 appearances for Rangers during his playing career. He also briefly returned to the dugout as interim boss after Philippe Clement was dismissed in February 2025.

The former Rangers captain believes his old club must avoid allowing their previous success to influence their approach this weekend.

Barry Ferguson’s warning to Rangers before Celtic clash

Ferguson has warned Rangers against becoming complacent after their commanding victory in the previous meeting.

However, his main concern is the way he feels Rangers have approached Celtic games in the past. He believes they have sometimes given their rivals too much respect instead of putting them under pressure.

Writing in the Daily Record on Friday, Ferguson said he had become frustrated at seeing Rangers show Celtic “far too much respect” over the years.

The former midfielder believes Rangers should recognise Celtic’s strengths while refusing to allow their opponents to dictate the contest.

His message is that McInnes’ players should take the game to Celtic, apply pressure from the beginning and make sure their opponents are uncomfortable.

Ferguson’s comments come after Rangers produced exactly that type of performance during the previous encounter between the sides.

Rangers dominated the last Old Firm meeting

Rangers controlled much of the previous game and ultimately recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory at Ibrox.

McInnes’ team finished the match with 56 per cent possession, compared with Celtic’s 44 per cent, while their superiority was even more apparent in the attacking statistics.

Rangers registered 13 attempts during the game, with eight finding the target. Celtic managed only four shots and just one was on target.

The numbers reflected a match in which Rangers largely dictated proceedings and restricted Celtic’s opportunities.

Martin O’Neill’s team struggled to find an effective response to the intensity and organisation shown by Rangers, who maintained control for long periods.

Rangers must reproduce their intensity at Celtic Park

The challenge for Rangers now is to deliver a similar performance in a very different environment.

Playing at Celtic Park will bring a different atmosphere, and Ferguson believes Rangers need to ensure they do not allow the occasion or the home crowd to give Celtic an early advantage.

A strong opening could once again put Celtic on the defensive and give Rangers the platform to control the match.

McInnes will therefore want his players to carry the same aggression and intensity into Sunday’s encounter rather than relying on the result from their previous meeting.

Another victory would strengthen Rangers’ position in the early title race, while giving Celtic another difficult result to contend with under O’Neill.