PAT NEVIN is eagerly anticipating Sunday's Premiership clash between Celtic and Rangers as the former Chelsea and Scotland winger hailed the Ibrox club's response to losing former manager Steven Gerrard.
Gerrard left Glasgow towards the end of last year to take charge of Aston Villa in the Premier League and Giovanni van Bronckhorst was appointed as his successor.
The Dutchman has guided the Premiership champions to the semi-finals of the Europa League and the final of the Scottish Cup, but the Govan outfit look set to miss out on retaining their league title as they trail their rivals by six points with four games left to play.
Ange Postecoglou's men can effectively seal the league with a victory at Parkhead on Sunday and Nevin is looking forward to the final derby of the campaign.
The 58-year-old says there is one Celtic player in particular he is looking forward to seeing in action on Saturday.
And Nevin believes that even though Van Bronckhorst deserves praise for the job he has done in Glasgow's south side so far, Rangers - and all of Scottish football - are missing Gerrard's superstar presence.
“I think Rangers will push right until the end," Nevin told Lord Ping. "But Celtic are on fantastic form. I'll be going to that game.
"I've seen quite a lot of Celtic and Rangers games this season and Celtic have been in absolute brilliant form. The way they play, the pace they play at, some of the players that Ange Postecoglou has brought in ... I mean, [Kyogo] Furuhashi in particular.
"I hope he doesn't move from Celtic, because it's been a joy to watch him there but there must be a host of Premier League clubs watching that guy, until an injury lately, but wow, is he special.
“Take nothing away from Rangers, I actually think they're having a good season. Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in at a tough time, because of Steven Gerrard leaving unexpectedly as it were, but they've been a good side and boy, they've had a brilliant run in the Europa League as well.
"And if they don't win the league, but get to the Europa League final, it'll still be seen as a great season for them.
“They've got to miss Steven Gerrard being around, as does the entirety of Scottish football. There was a real kudos about Scottish football having him around but let’s not forget; Giovanni van Bronckhorst has come in and he's got them on the cusp of a European final.
"Now, the Europa League, sometimes English teams didn't take it that seriously. They do now because it's got a Champions League berth at the end of it if you win it.
"It's not an easy competition to get through and Giovanni has managed to take them to the cusp of it now with RB Leipzig waiting in way."
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