NACHO NOVO believes Rangers and Celtic will both be feeling the pressure heading into this Saturday's Old Firm derby.
Rangers are three points clear with a game in hand and will be expected to come out on top in front of a home crowd at Ibrox. But Novo is well aware a victory for Celtic would blow the title race wide open.
"We can't relax, because nothing is fini
shed," said the striker. "At a club like Rangers, you have pressure all of the time – and we need 100 per cent every time. We won't be relaxed and we'll be under pressure just like Celtic – because we'll both be fighting to win the game."
Rangers triumphed 3-0 in the last clash with their bitter rivals back in October but Novo expects to have to work harder for the points this time around. He added: "It'll be a different game from last October, but I hope we can get the good result.
"People say, if we beat Celtic in the Old Firm games that is the league won, but I don't think so. There are other teams like Falkirk, Hibs, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and others who make it mega-difficult for both Celtic and Rangers. It's not just about us two. Maybe some years ago, but now there are so many young Scottish players coming through, and there is great talent – which makes it difficult."
The helicopter carrying the SPL trophy was famously forced to change direction three years ago when Rangers unexpectedly triumphed against all the odds on the final day of the season. And Novo – who scored that day – is keen to avoid another tense finale by ensuring Rangers hold on to a healthy lead.
He said: "To win a league, you need to think of every single game – not just the one. Look what happened in 2005. The helicopter was going to Motherwell and had to turn around.
"It'll be difficult for that to happen again, but you never know. The most important thing is that we concentrate on every single match."
The full article contains 353 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
