Rangers new full back Tuur Rommens quickly discovered the highs and the lows of football at Ibrox this past week as Rangers raced into a dominant two goal first-half lead over Celtic only to throw it away to draw in the second.
Despite it being his introduction to the Old Firm fixture he was well aware of the prestige around the match.
He said: “In Belgium there’s only one game in Scotland that they broadcast and it’s the Old Firm.
“I watched it a couple of times and it was impressive and it didn’t disappoint.”
Derby Debut Draw
Having failed to take the victory in his debut derby he shares the frustration of the support, and knows the pressure is now on he and his teammates to deliver a victory, this time in the Scottish Cup.
“It’s a big club and the fans are very demanding and everybody here is demanding,” he explained.
“You want to win, everybody wants to win, so there’s a different kind of winner’s mentality that you need to have here.”
With the rivals meeting again in the Scottish this afternoon, Rommens feels the quick turnaround could offer an opportunity for a quick redemption.
“It is an opportunity to get this right,” he said.
“We were very disappointed, even two days after we were still disappointed, but you have to change your motivation and go again on Sunday to win this game.”
Rommens believes the home support could be decisive if Rangers start well, despite the boosted 7k plus away support set to be housed in the Broomloan stand.
“If we start the same way as we did last Sunday and with the fans behind us, we can go for it,” he explained.
Do or Die
While a draw last week seen both halves of the great Glasgow divide exit Govan with a point apiece, this match will be played to a finish – and the Belgian is adamant he and the squad know the risks and rewards available to them.
“It’s a do-or-die game. If you lose, you’re out, if you win you go through.
“Especially if you play Celtic, it’s a little bit different – it’s the biggest Cup game I will ever play here.
“We have a great squad; great players and I think the mentality is there to win this game.”
Rommens already experienced the emotional rollercoaster that is the Old Firm during his first taste of the fixture, but the rapid rematch offers an immediate chance to put that disappointment right.
With a place at Hampden at stake, he knows the only response Rangers supporters will accept is turning last week’s frustration into victory.
