The Light Blues will face the Hoops at Hampden this season, with both clubs aiming to win the Scottish Cup and accomplish domestic doubles.
Philippe Clement has warned Rangers supporters that a decision on John Lundstram will be made based on his training ground performance rather than what fans expect.
The Light Blues are prepared to play Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park, where they hope to win a domestic trophy double and their first victory against Brendan Rodgers’ side this season. The Hoops won the Scottish Premiership title earlier this month with a derby day victory against their city rivals, placing them on the verge of glory before crossing the finish line at Rugby Park.
A major talking point from that game was midfielder Lundstram’s ejection for a late lunge on Alistair Johnston. The Rangers player was first given a yellow card, but after a review, the judgement was increased to a red, leaving Clement’s side with only 10 men for the second half. Lundstram is out of contract and will be leaving Rangers, with a game at Hampden looking increasingly likely to be his final appearance for the club if selected.
When asked at his media conference if it is a big choice to bring the midfielder back into his team, with some Rangers fans wishing he does not play against Celtic, Clement said: “I am never going to make decisions based on what people are thinking at the time. That’s emotion. They do not see training or the team working. They don’t even know who the players are or how they interact in the locker room.
“So I don’t think I need to answer that question, if I need to start with him or not. It is about the decision I make with my staff about what I see in training and the last couple of months in the games.”
On taking some risks with players, he said: “All the players want to play this game. All of them. Some want to go really on the edge to be there and play the game. We are going to need to make smart decisions about that. How many minutes they can without it being too much risk, but they want to do it.”
Clement will give players up to the last minute to prove they can be involved at Hampden, by adding: “I need to see tomorrow at training. That is the final moment to show you are fit enough to play some minutes in the game. Otherwise if you didn’t play all week it is impossibly to play in the game.”
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