Liel Abada has told Rangers fans he’s ready to silence Ibrox on Saturday.
The Hoops winger – who is up for the PFA Scotland young player of the year award – is relishing the opportunity of another crack at Rangers just days after securing the Premiership crown. Celtic fans will be shut out on Glasgow’s south side but Abada is convinced Ange Postecoglou's men can hush the home support. Abada said: “Every time we play the Celtic fans come to support us.
“It’s very good because it pushes us to get to the top. For this game there are no fans so we need to do the job without them and be focused on doing the job. In the games before, the atmosphere has been unbelievable.
“But for this one the best noise will be silence. If it is quiet we know we are doing well. We just have to do our job like we do every time.”
Celtic have the title in the bag but Abada insisted the champions won’t take their foot off the gas against their old foes. He said: “For us, every game is important. It doesn’t matter who we play, we just want to bring our game to every game to get the three points.
“It doesn’t matter if we have won the league already or not. We just have our targets and want to finish the season strongly. Celtic is such a big club – the best club in Scotland – and in every game you feel the pressure from the fans.
“You want to win every game to get the three points. But after you have been at the club you learn to live with that pressure. I think it’s something that’s improved me a lot as a player. For all the players there is pressure. That’s the same whether it’s the Champions League or other important games.
“But we stay calm and just do our job. We know what we have to do in every game and we do it.”
Abada has struggled for starts at times this season but has constantly been a big game player who produced in the major moments.
He said: “You can say that – I can’t say that! I just do my job on the pitch for the team and everyone. I bring 100 percent to the training and to the games and bring my best performance on the pitch.”
Abada has been a surge of Rangers for two seasons – notching a double in the 4-0 derby drubbing to set the tone for the season back in September to add to his strike in the 3-0 hammering last term.
The Israel ace bring out his best against Gers and said: “Yeah, I know… I had two goals against Rangers this season which was a great moment for me.
“I also think about my hat-trick against Dundee United this season. But the atmosphere was unbelievable against Rangers as it felt really crazy with all the fans.
“I was really happy that we won the game. I also scored to make it 3-0 against Rangers last season and it was my first derby game at Celtic Park. The atmosphere that day was unbelievable too.
“Everyone did their job that day and we got the points. It doesn’t matter who scores in the games.”
Abada was thrilled to be listed among the nominees for the PFA young player award again after lifting the gong 12 months ago. Kyogo, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor are up for the big award and the wide man reckons there is one winner.
He said: “There are a lot of players who deserve the award to be Player of the Year. But for me I think it should be Kyogo as he has scored a lot of goals and had big moments in big games.
“I voted for him in the Celtic awards. Who I voted for in the PFA awards I will keep to myself.”
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