Absolutely ruin their weekend- Barry Ferguson’s instructs Micky Beale how to pile the pressure on Celtic

Barry Ferguson has told Micky Beale to get his squad to humiliate Celtic in tomorrow’s lunch-time Derby.

Ange Postecoglou is unbeaten in domestic matches at home, this season’s 100% home record covers 15 victories including a 4-0 win in September that was the beginning of the end for Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Prior to that match Ferguson told Record readers that the Dutchman had sussed out his Australian opponent.

Celtic are strong favourites going into the match with Ferguson wanting that factor and the absence of away fans to be used to motivate James Tavernier and his team-mates.

In trademark fashion, Ferguson tells Daily Record readers:

Never once did I go there believing we were on a hiding to nothing, no matter the quality lining up on the other side of that halfway line. Never once did I think defeat would be acceptable, never mind inevitable.

And I made damn sure that everyone else around me felt the exact same way before we stepped off that bus, surrounded by a baying mob in the car park. I’d sick my chest out, look them in the eyes and think to myself, ‘I’m going to do everything in my power to absolutely ruin your weekend!’

That’s the attitude Beale and his players will need because they have to understand that these people want to rub their noses in the dirt. They don’t just want to beat them. They want to humiliate them.

If that doesn’t light a fire inside your belly then don’t even bother walking off the steps. Go out there and throw a spanner in their works. Cut that gap down to six points and see how they react when the pressure is on.

The pressure has been on Ange Postecoglou and his squad from day one of pre-season training in June 2021 when he inherited a shell of a squad.

When he took 10 points from his first seven matches he didn’t wilt or abandon his beliefs- his side went out and won away at Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell over the course of a month to kick the away game hoodoo into touch.

When Alloa tried to boot Celtic off the park in a Scottish Cup tie his side never reacted, Celtic went through with Wasps boss Ferguson leaving the club within a month.