Michael Beale says he's just about over the last time Rangers played Celtic in a League Cup Final with a blunt response about his memories from that day.
But the boss is confident of a better result this time out as he looks ahead to a mouthwatering "us or them" Hampden showdown. Beale was Steven Gerrard's right hand man back in 2019 when his side cruelly lost to a Christopher Jullien header and he admits it was a "regret" that they didn't take their chances.
He said: "It was a disappointment. I thought we performed well between the two boxes but we didn't execute what we had to in a decisive game in the boxes. That's a regret, but that was in our own hands that game against a very good opponent, but we didn't win the trophy. It's one we have that they don't have. It's the one that's missing."
And when asked to elaborate on his memories of that one he bluntly responded: "I've just about let it go."
Beale also responded to the fans' banner asking the club to "uphold the standards that matter" after two trophies in nine years. He said: "The last four trophies that were handed out in Scotland, two were handed to Rangers. We won the league, Celtic won the league, they won the League Cup and we won the Scottish Cup.
"We're in a good place as a football club and it's about ensuring we have a strong future. It will be a good final for the neutral and I'm looking forward to it."
Rangers have won 14 of Beale's 15 games since taking over but they've failed to make up any ground on Celtic who have matched them blow for blow. But the clash on Sunday gives Gers the chance to finally get one over on their rivals and Beale was asked if that gives the showdown an "extra edge."
He said: "Of course it does. It's very much us or them, Rangers or Celtic. Second is last, I get that.
"I said when I came in I didn't think we were as broken as people think and hopefully now 14 games in, we're on the mend and people are starting to see that. This weekend's performance and game is about winning. If we win or if we lose, we have the same amount of work to do, so let's not be dramatic about the bigger picture and focus on this fantastic game and doing ourselves justice.
"I still have a big job and it's a job I came running back to this city to do. I'm excited and optimistic about the future."
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