Barry Ferguson has presented a deeply troubling picture of how he prepared for matches against Celtic.
Every time the derby fixture comes around Daily Record readers are presented with an in-depth recall of how intense the midfielder got in the build up to facing Celtic.
Ferguson likes to go into various rituals that he indulged in to prove what a massive Rangers man he is with today’s effort combining most of his pre-match activities.
Being an elite sportsman does take a special type of mindset but it can boil over as Fergie explained to his army of Record readers.
You could also hear Celtic’s bus turning up and I like that.
You’d hear the chorus of boos and the hairs on the back of your neck would stand up. “That’s them turned up. They’re here!”
At that point I would jump up off my seat. I always sat directly in front of the toilet and there were two mirrors on either side. I’d jump up, walk towards them and say, “Right, that’s them here. Let’s get ready to go!”
It was little things like that which made it so special.
I would start drifting into myself. I’d punch the tiles on the dressing room wall, talking to myself. “Listen I need this from you today. Make sure you win the first tackle…”
Then you’d realise someone else is in the toilet behind you thinking to themselves, “What the f*** is this guy all about?”
But I just liked to have a wee chat to remind myself that I was going into battle. To remind myself to win the first tackle or the first header. To make the first pass spot on. I had to go over it all in my own head.
I’d walk into the boot room to have a wee chat with myself. Then the physio’s room.
Looking back now I can see why people used to give me funny looks! I’d go into the gym even though I didn’t like it. Then back into the dressing room to listen to a bit of chat.
I’d get back up and walk down the corridor to Jimmy Bell’s kit room which was almost like a passageway into the enclosure of the main stand. If you opened the door you could hear the noise inside the ground. I felt like I was one of those fans, waiting for the kick-off.
I can laugh about it now but at the time it was all about getting focused. Getting in the zone.
Between media engagements Ferguson manages Lowland League side Kelty Hearts.
Regardless of the build up and hype surrounding the fixture Neil Lennon is determined to extend his unbeaten run as Celtic manager with Ibrox a happy hunting ground for him in recent times.
After leading Hibs to promotion in 2017 he enjoyed two wins at Ibrox last season- against Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty, in December he led Hibs to a 1-1 draw against current Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.
In ten matches in charge of Celtic in a caretaker capacity Lennon has enjoyed seven wins and three goal-less draws.
