Wee Gordon Strachan believes that the difference between the SPL and the English Premiership is minimal. Strachan sees his runaway league leaders take on Premiership leaders Man
United tonight at Celtic Park and has heightened the pressure before the game by
deriding the claims that the English league is the best in the world.
"We know the SPL is not the same as the English Premiership, but
there’s not that great a difference," said Strachan.
"We’d be competitive in the top half of the Premiership. I think they give themselves too many pats on the back for being the
best league in the world. It’s all right at times, but I’ve seen some dire games there as well."
Tonight’s game comes three years after Ferguson completed a Champions League double over Rangers, and now, he gets the chance to repeat the honour against the other half of the Old Firm.
A United victory would ensure their place in the knockout stage of the competition, although it won’t be easy against an in-form side who have only lost one game in the past eleven home matches… and that was to Barcelona.
"It’s one of the most exciting matches I’ve been involved in, but it’s not the biggest, that’s for sure," said Strachan ahead of the game.
"It will be a great occasion, fantastic. But if you ask me if it is the biggest game then I will say no. Is it the most exciting? Possibly. There’s been a few games where I’ve been under a lot of pressure."
Strachan’s side are hoping to reverse the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford against the leaders of Group F. Kenny Miller, expected to return from injury has stated that Manchester United are their to be beaten.
"We need to get something from the game, there’s no doubt about it," he said.
"But it has been shown that they can be beaten, they are not immortal.
They are a good team, don’t get me wrong, but we can beat them. We know that we have enough in the squad to go and win the game."
United will have an eye on their huge game with Chelsea on Sunday, but Ferguson will be wary of making too many changes after losing 1-0 to FC Copenhagen last time around.
He said: "I have not made my mind up about who should be left out. We took a risk in Copenhagen, so we are well aware of the dangers of taking too many chances. There is a temptation to play my strongest side because we still have another five days before the Chelsea game."
These matches, often dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’ inevitably see thoughts move to the a much debated possibility of Scotland’s biggest two clubs testing their abilities in England.Ferguson concedes the pair could succeed, he does not believe they will ever have the opportunity.
"Over the years there has been talk of British leagues," reflected Ferguson.
"If the barometer of how successful Rangers and Celtic would be is the friendly games they play, they would probably do very well. But the situation is not as simple as that, and in any case the situation is all hypothetical because I do not think it will ever happen. It is too difficult a move." Until such a thing happens, we’ll settle for these thrilling European matches which could see United needing to win their last game to ensure qualification in the competition. All eyes on Glasgow. [Mof Gimmers]