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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Robbie Hanratty

Brendan Rodgers lavishes Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou with praise and calls for Rangers away allocation increase

Brendan Rodgers reckons Ange Postecoglou has done a fantastic job since taking the Parkhead reins last summer.

Postecoglou will lead Celtic as they face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday in the final Old Firm clash before the league split, with the Hoops three points clear at the Premiership summit.

And Rodgers, who won seven trophies during his three years in charge in Glasgow before leaving for Leicester City told Sky Sports that Ibrox is a great place to go and he would love to see a solution to their reduced away allocation.

"Celtic have been brilliant," said Rodgers.

"For me, Ange has done a fantastic job there. A lot of new players have come in along with the guys from my time there: Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Nir Biton.

"They've played some terrific football, they've got themselves into a great position and whatever happens at the end of Sunday, they'll still be top and in a really good position.

"But Ibrox is a great place to go and play with the atmosphere. To win there with Celtic is obviously special there, as a player or a manager, and they'll go on and play with no fear and will go on to win the game."

Rodgers knows just how special derby day can be for supporters and with 700 tickets given to Celtic supporters for Sunday, the Leicester City boss has called on the clubs to come together and find a way to allow away fans in future.

During Rodgers' time, the away allocation could have been anything up to 8000 tickets before the Ibrox club opted to slash the allocation with Parkhead responding in turn and the first two derbies this term even saw away fan lockouts.

Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson confirmed earlier this year that away fans would return but said they wouldn't return to the thousands-strong sections of old 'in the near future'.

"The uniqueness of Celtic and Rangers is the supporters," added Rodgers.

"To feel a game as Celtic manager against Rangers is such a special occasion. I virtually remember all the games as Celtic manager against Rangers and they're such tense games.

"I just hope that, going forward, the two teams can get the allocation back because that's what truly makes it: the spectacle around the world. They're still great games - I watched the last game which Celtic won 3-0 and they played fantastically well at Celtic Park and the atmosphere was amazing.

"But I think that extra bit comes when you have that 7,000, 8,000 supporters that travel as well because that really brings the atmosphere up a little bit more as well.

"Hopefully they can get back to those numbers again, but in the meantime - home or away - they're incredible games to be involved in and if you can win, they're extra special."

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