Marc Rieper is well aware that losing the derby doesn’t always mean losing the race for silver. Alternatively, the fact that bookmakers will not distribute the profits to third parties after nine months if they pay out on a champion after just a few games of the season.

From his home in Denmark, the former Celtic defender is keeping an eye on the current Premiership title fight. Furthermore, his former team is well aware that winning a lot of points on derby day does not translate into winning a lot of medals at the end of May.Although the team led by Brendan Rodgers had defeated the Rangers in both of their previous matches, the second meeting was little over a month ago, and the team was ahead by eight points at that point.

However, that is meaningless if business isn’t being handled elsewhere. For the first time this season, they have finally given up their position at the top of the table after losing by 16 points to the other top division teams.

And Rieper, who joined Parkhead from West Ham in 1997, recognizes the parallels with his debut campaign. only backwards. After losing their opening two league games to Hibs and Dunfermline, the Hoops—who had been Glasgow’s second force for years—were written off before August was even over.

Even though they only managed to win four of the twelve points in the four Old Firm matches, Wim Jansen’s team battled back to win the championship and dash their opponents’ hopes of winning ten straight. More than any other season, that one completely disproved the idea that the team with the best derby record is the one that wins in the end.

There were still dangers ahead, even after Rangers defeated the opposition 2-0 in the season’s final derby at Ibrox to reclaim the top spot with four games remaining. specifically losses to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.

This season, the Rangers are battling back after dropping two of their first four games and failing to defeat the Hoops head-on thus far. Wins in the Old Firm derbies only go you so far, Rieper said to Record Sport. They are the ones that the fans are obviously interested in, therefore winning them is obviously crucial. However, it makes no guarantees.

It is crucial that you win nearly all of the points in the other games if you don’t win the derby by a wide margin. In the season we stopped the Rangers ten games in a row, that’s where we outperformed them. We only won once, and they defeated us twice. We did, however, win the league.

“It’s incredible; after Celtic lost their opening two games, the bookies had already paid out on Rangers winning the league when I had only been here two or three games into the season. But after that, we had a pretty strong run. We gave every game our whole attention. There was a lot of pressure, so we had to be. I never experienced pressure like I did at Celtic.

It was challenging for me to comprehend how fervent the supporters were as a foreigner from the outside. Rangers as well as Celtic. You won’t find anything like that anyplace else. I sensed that the boys from Scotland on our team were under extreme pressure.

“Celtic’s nine-year league winless streak was really getting to us as we had to stop the Rangers from winning ten straight games.” Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and maybe this time around they’ll be able to regain the upper hand before the season ends. However, it’s critical that they now aim to win each and every remaining game. Not the derbies alone. Losing to weaker teams can have comparable consequences.

When Rieper looks at the current league table, that’s what he fears. Regardless of whether Michael Beale or Philippe Clement is leading the light blues, Rodgers’ Celtic have so far this season had the upper hand against the Rangers in head-to-head matches. However, throughout the campaign, Kilmarnock, Hearts, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Hibs, and St Johnstone have inflicted serious losses on them.

Rieper, who currently owns a women’s clothing company in his native country, is aware that Rodgers’ men cannot afford to ignore the problem. “It’s a serious issue that you lose so many points to teams that don’t play in the Old Firm derbies,” he stated.

“The remaining teams are sufficiently coordinated, as we have seen several times this season, to pose issues. That’s where having both boxes sharpened is necessary, and perhaps that’s what’s lacking at the moment.

“Copenhagen is the only truly dominant team in Denmark. My son Frederik just played with Silkeborg on Sunday against them. They could have easily led by one or two goals and lost 3-0 because Copenhagen is simply more adept in both areas.

That’s the distinction. To win any league, you must possess such quality. In the next 12 games of the season, Celtic must ensure that they are making progress in that area. They had a really good look the previous year, and I don’t think that’s the case anymore.

It’s challenging to explain why from the outside in. The previous season’s football was incredibly fluid, with excellent passing. Something clicked right away. The way they pass and move the ball hasn’t been quite as effective as it was the previous season. However, they undoubtedly still possess the necessary skills to repeat as champions.

Rieper is watching Celtic games from Scandinavia in addition to supporting his old team. Rieper’s old teammate from the Hoops, Morten Wieghorst, is the assistant manager of the Danish national team, and Matt O’Riley’s recent success there is another reason to stay up to date on events in Glasgow’s east end.

“I visited the training ground last year and spoke with Matt and the former manager,” he remarked. Matt will be against some very experienced midfield players, such as Eriksen.

But I am aware that the manager is keeping an eye on this player. He’s being closely observed by Morten Wieghorst, who has a great affection for Celtic. He is a talented musician. He needs to do better in a few areas.

However, he is a significant goal and assist producer who will be vital to Celtic over the coming months.

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