Friday 21 October 2016 19:14, UK
Brendan Rodgers has urged fans on both sides of the Old Firm divide to show both passion and respect when Rangers meet Celtic on Sunday.
Last month's Premiership clash between the sides was marred by the conduct of some supporters, with the Celtic faithful criticised after effigies were hung from the Parkhead stands while a toilet in the area housing the away support was trashed.
Rodgers has been struck by the intensity of life in Scotland since taking over at Celtic this summer but insists he has experienced none of the nastiness the fixture is capable of provoking and he hopes it stays that way when his team take on Rangers in the Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden.
"I've never had any trouble since I've been up here. I've enjoyed my football life and my social life outside of here," Rodgers said. "Any Rangers supporters I've met on my journey up here have been very respectful.
"I understand that when you manage or play for Celtic that it is a really privileged position. But I think it's important whether you are a Rangers supporter or a Celtic supporter, you can be really passionate about your club. You can love your club - it can be your life.
"But we have to live together and respect each other's passions. Going into this weekend's game, give all your support but respect what the result is and move on afterwards."
Since the last meeting between the sides, which Celtic won 5-1, Rangers have won three out of five and Rodgers acknowledged there have been improvements made by Mark Warburton's side.
"I have seen a little bit of them," he said. "I saw a bit of the Inverness game and they look a little bit happier in how they are working. They have some really talented individual players and they want to work the ball and create chances.
"But my focus is always on my own team and we're always focused on what we can bring with our style. If we can impose that then, as we've seen before, we can give a lot of problems to opponents.
"I don't think their game changes. The idea of their method will be fundamentally the same. They are going to build from behind, they want to create opportunities from midfield and look to get the ball in the box to score.
"That's the way Mark believes in that way of working. I had heard Niko Kranjcar may be injured but I don't think that changes anything. Whoever comes in will be asked to do the job of building, creating and scoring goals."
