Wednesday 13 April 2016 13:00, UK
Ronny Deila's future as Celtic manager hinges on the result of the Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers, according to former Hoops full-back Mark Wilson.
Wilson, the scorer of the only goal when the Old Firm last met in the Scottish Cup five years ago, feels Celtic are narrow favourites for the Hampden Park showdown, but he also believes Rangers' successful season will lose some of its shine if they lose on Sunday.
"Ronny would go a long way to keeping his job if he wins this game," says Wilson, who spent six-and-a-half years at Parkhead. "Some of the doubters he's had all season would slowly start to turn in his favour again, another double would be on the cards, and he'd go a long way towards securing his job in the summer. If he loses it, he's only got one trophy, and it doesn't look good for him next year.
"The two managers are under the same pressure, but for different reasons. If Mark Warburton loses the game, the wind will be knocked out of the sails of Rangers and their fans, because it's been a success story [this season]. There's a real belief amongst Rangers fans that this team can challenge Celtic, so Rangers would go into the remaining weeks of the season deflated.
"For Ronny Deila, it's been a very different season. He's been scrutinised at every turn, and in the big games he's come up short for Celtic this season - and there's no bigger game than the Old Firm. He's won one already but the gap between the two teams isn't as wide as it was last year. For Ronny Deila to lose this, he'd have a lot of Celtic fans on his back again - and that brings a lot of pressure."
Deila's Celtic eased past Rangers 2-0 in last season's League Cup semi-final at Hampden last January, when the Ibrox club were under the temporary charge of Kenny McDowall. On that day, Rangers failed to register a shot on goal, but Wilson expects a far closer encounter in Sunday's game, which is exclusively live on Sky Sports.
"Can you ever pick a winner in an Old Firm game?" says Wilson. "Last year, there was a huge gap between the teams and everybody knew there was only an outside chance of Rangers getting anything from Celtic, and that's the way it panned out. But in previous Old Firm games, you could never pick a winner and I'm the same this year.
"I know a division separates them, but it's going to be very tight. Celtic are favourites because they are top of the Premiership, but sometimes that goes out of the window in Old Firm games, so it's very difficult to pick a winner in this one.
"The form this season for Celtic has been up and down. Against Hearts, they were good in patches but Hearts controlled the ball in the first half, scored first and put Celtic under a bit of pressure. Then they went to Dundee and dropped points; Rangers played Dundee in the last round and ran all over the top of them. I don't think there's a big difference between the teams."
With just five games left, Celtic tightened their grip on the Premiership title race over the weekend. Saturday's 2-1 win at Motherwell, following Aberdeen's defeat to Hearts on Friday evening, has given Deila's team an eight-point lead over their nearest rivals, added to a far superior goal difference. Despite that advantage, Wilson is not convinced Celtic's manager knows which players he will pick for the semi-final.
"All the way through the season, I don't think Ronny Deila has been certain of his best eleven," added Wilson. "Too often this season, he's chopped and changed. I think in recent weeks we're starting to get a wee look at what he may be thinking because he went into the Hearts game with a strong team and for that Dundee game, he only made one change.
"It'll be interesting to see if he plays Patrick Roberts, I think he might have a big say. He's been impressive in recent weeks and he might pose a threat for Rangers, but Deila's got that many good players, it's difficult to pick an eleven. It does sometimes cause uncertainty; for me as a player, I wouldn't really like that, I wouldn't like to be playing one week and not even know if I'm going to be stripped the next week, so it can be to Celtic's downfall. It's great when you have a big squad, but when you're chopping and changing every week, you don't get that consistency.
"If you're Mark Warburton, you're working with a tight squad, and I think we all know when we see Rangers, pretty much what their eleven is going to be. "
Defender Erik Sviatchenko is a major doubt for Celtic with a thigh injury, which caused him to miss the win over Motherwell. If he fails to recover, the central defensive partnership of Dedryck Boyata and Charlie Mulgrew looks set to continue, and Wilson feels the experience and strength in depth Deila can call upon is a significant advantage for Celtic.
"Of all the signings Ronny Deila has made, Sviatchenko looks to be one of the strongest," said the 31-year-old, who has been a free agent since leaving Dumbarton last summer. "He looks comfortable on the ball and looks to be a good defender, and that's a position Celtic have had problems with all season. The other option is Charlie Mulgrew, who I think is an outstanding centre half for Celtic, especially on that left side, so they have got cover there, but I think Ronny Deila would prefer to play Sviatchenko.
"Celtic can play a number of ways; they've got a bit of physical presence and if things aren't going their way, they can change it a bit. They've got a big squad so they can bring guys off the bench who can make the difference. Rangers, as nice as they are to watch, can really only play one way. Mark Warburton's got it installed in them that they play out from the back and play nice neat progressive football, but if that's not happening for them, what will they turn to?
"In these games, drawing on experience is always vital. In the Rangers squad, there's not a lot of players with Old Firm experience. Kenny Miller knows what it's all about, and I'm sure he'll be telling his team-mates - make a fast start; if you start slow, the game can be over within 10 or 15 minutes.
"Rangers like to play football but I think it'll be a battle, first and foremost. I've heard Mark Warburton saying that it's just another game of football; in my experience, it's not just a normal game of football, it's something extraordinary and that's why we're all looking forward to it!"
Wilson won eight major honours with Celtic, including two Scottish Cups in 2007 and 2011. The latter was secured following a tumultuous fifth-round replay win over Rangers. After a sensational first game had finished 2-2 at Ibrox, Wilson's match-winning goal in the replay was largely forgotten amid chaotic scenes, as three Rangers players were sent off and Neil Lennon clashed on the touchline with Ally McCoist.
"The Ibrox tie was one of my favourite games in a Celtic shirt," said Wilson. "The build-up was huge to it, and everything was on the line, it was such a tense occasion. El Hadji-Diouf had come to Rangers and was the cheerleader for the crowd, with Celtic fans hating him and Rangers fans loving him.
"We didn't start well - Rangers raced into the lead and we got a man sent off. In the second half, we came out and had a real go, Rangers went deeper and deeper which was a surprise, and we were by far the better team. Broony scored that wonderful goal and produced his questionable celebration... it was just a remarkable occasion. We came into the dressing room after thinking it could've been even better.
"The replay just turned into carnage, right from the off. Tensions were high; there were all sorts of things going on down on the touchline. Whittaker was sent off, Bougherra was sent off, and it was an amazing game. I scored and everyone forgot! I think it was overshadowed by what was going on at the touchline; everyone says to me they remember the game, but who scored? I can tell my sons it was me, one day when we look back on it.
"When you know you've made so many people happy, it's a remarkable feeling. Running away of course, I didn't know what to do or where to celebrate, so I just kept running until somebody stopped me! It was a special night for me."
Those ties were two of seven encounters between Rangers and Celtic in the 2010-2011 season, with the teams meeting three times in both cup competitions, and four times in the league as they fought an engrossing battle which went to the final day. Since then, there have been just five Old Firm games in five seasons, and only one since 2012, following Rangers' financial implosion and subsequent journey back up from the bottom of the Scottish league ladder.
Warburton's side secured the Championship title and promotion back to the top flight last week, guaranteeing the return of league games between the sides next season. Wilson, for one, cannot wait for the resumption of regular hostilities.
"It's great. I don't think we appreciated what we had that season with the seven games. I remember reading at the time, people saying it was boring having seven games, but how could you ever get bored of that atmosphere beamed all round the world? Frantic games of football, genuine interest in our game in Scotland. And that's what Rangers are bringing back to the league, and in this cup tie.
"There's genuine interest from around the world, people are coming from everywhere to watch this fixture, and it's fantastic that we're going to have three or four next year. Let's appreciate what we've got. People can't wait for it, I certainly can't wait for it, and it's just a great occasion for Scottish football."
Watch the Glasgow derby on Sky Sports 2 HD from 11am this Sunday.
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