In the lead-up to the two bitter rivals’ reunion on Thursday, Rodgers acknowledges that Rangers’ aggression, off-the-ball play, organization, and pressing intensity were all challenges for Celtic. It was evident from the first minute that the Celtic manager had failed to come up with a response to the questions Rangers would pose to his team once more, this time in the familiar surroundings of Ibrox, two weeks after Kasper Schmeichel had stopped Ridvan Yilmaz from 12 yards out to turn the ribbons from blue to green.

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann, who was watching from the gantry, came to the conclusion that Nedim Bajrami was the one who set the tone after he beat Celtic metronome Callum McGregor. However, Chris Sutton, who was seated next to McCann, thought that the player in blue was by far the greatest on the field. According to former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, the unstoppable Nico Raskin was “excellent” at Hampden Park and even better here.

Chris Sutton raves about Nico Raskin as Rangers smash Celtic

In addition to avoiding the kind of mistake that allowed Daizen Maeda to equalize in the cup final in December, Raskin managed three tackles, four interceptions, and an assist for Ianis Hagi’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it opener. As the tenacious Belgian advanced in stoppage time to a rousing ovation, Sutton, a four-time Premiership champion from across the city, told Sky Sports, “I think Raskin has been the outstanding player on the pitch.”

Although there have been many talented players in blue, he has been the standout. Additionally, Hagi’s objective to lead the Rangers is crucial. “The shot passes through Cameron Carter-Vickers’ legs, but it’s incredibly precise.” A contract dispute left Ianis Hagi wriggling in the reserves until a much-needed breakthrough was made back in October, while Raskin’s injury-plagued season began.

As they say, the Romanian has been “like a new signing,” but that would just lessen his impact.After watching Hagi beat Kasper Schmeichel and celebrate the kind of finish his legendary father, who was watching from the Ibrox terraces, would have been proud of, McCann remarked, “We know this boy has talent both [on his] left and right.”

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