Brendan Rodgers knows it. And never more so when Celtic are heading into the derby looking to avenge a defeat to their greatest rivals. There could be 60 points between the Hoops and Rangers at the top of the Premiership and it would mean EVERYTHING to every supporter. Himself included.
Nobody needs tell the Northern Irishman of the responsibility he and his players carry at Parkhead tomorrow. Not when he lived and breathed the derby as a fan before his first stint as boss and then again in between coming back for a second.
Rodgers knows exactly what is at stake as he looks for revenge on the 3-0 drubbing dished out by Rangers at Ibrox on January - only the second loss of his 21-derby career.
Rodgers said: "For me, it's very straight-forward to paint the nature of this game. It wouldn't matter if we were 16 points clear or 60 points clear. This is Celtic-Rangers. It's not a game you want to lose.
"No matter how far in front you are or how well you've been playing, this is a game that means everything to supporters, to their lives, to their daily life. It means everything to them and especially on the back of our last performance.
"It's what they breathe every single day and you know that responsibility you have as a manager. And the great privilege that we have for every supporter around the world, the Celtic supporter in every corner of the world, the opportunity to give them that real, real good feeling.
"I tuned into them when I was away from here, before I was here and then now to be back in it, it's obviously special.
"I would always cheer in the house or wherever I was. You feel the emotion, that's what the game is, isn't it? And that's what in particular this game is about. It's the emotional connection that you have with your team, the support and that joy that you get from making everyone happy."
That said, Celtic could maybe be forgiven for a touch of complacency given the 16point advantage they have heading into battle with Barry Ferguson's men.
The fact Rangers were put through a 120-minute physical and emotional wringer in Thursday night's breathless Europa League win over Fenerbahce can only play into the Hoops' hands too.
Rodgers isn't having it though. He insists there's a mental battle still to be won.
He said: "It was a long shift for them. But from our perspective it's about looking to play our game. Our game's a running game, it's a pressing game, it's an intense game, so that's what we want to play from the very first whistle.
"I don't know the Rangers squad, I don't know the mentalities, but I know that obviously they got through their tie and they'll come to us. It's always a mental thing. I had a recent experience with my team at Leicester, where we played Manchester City on December 26 away - peak Man City.
"And then on the 28th we got peak Liverpool. So it was as tough as you get.
"And the second game, when Liverpool had more rest coming into the game than ourselves,...
Nobody needs tell the Northern Irishman of the responsibility he and his players carry at Parkhead tomorrow. Not when he lived and breathed the derby as a fan before his first stint as boss and then again in between coming back for a second.
Rodgers knows exactly what is at stake as he looks for revenge on the 3-0 drubbing dished out by Rangers at Ibrox on January - only the second loss of his 21-derby career.
Rodgers said: "For me, it's very straight-forward to paint the nature of this game. It wouldn't matter if we were 16 points clear or 60 points clear. This is Celtic-Rangers. It's not a game you want to lose.
"No matter how far in front you are or how well you've been playing, this is a game that means everything to supporters, to their lives, to their daily life. It means everything to them and especially on the back of our last performance.
"It's what they breathe every single day and you know that responsibility you have as a manager. And the great privilege that we have for every supporter around the world, the Celtic supporter in every corner of the world, the opportunity to give them that real, real good feeling.
"I tuned into them when I was away from here, before I was here and then now to be back in it, it's obviously special.
"I would always cheer in the house or wherever I was. You feel the emotion, that's what the game is, isn't it? And that's what in particular this game is about. It's the emotional connection that you have with your team, the support and that joy that you get from making everyone happy."
That said, Celtic could maybe be forgiven for a touch of complacency given the 16point advantage they have heading into battle with Barry Ferguson's men.
The fact Rangers were put through a 120-minute physical and emotional wringer in Thursday night's breathless Europa League win over Fenerbahce can only play into the Hoops' hands too.
Rodgers isn't having it though. He insists there's a mental battle still to be won.
He said: "It was a long shift for them. But from our perspective it's about looking to play our game. Our game's a running game, it's a pressing game, it's an intense game, so that's what we want to play from the very first whistle.
"I don't know the Rangers squad, I don't know the mentalities, but I know that obviously they got through their tie and they'll come to us. It's always a mental thing. I had a recent experience with my team at Leicester, where we played Manchester City on December 26 away - peak Man City.
"And then on the 28th we got peak Liverpool. So it was as tough as you get.
"And the second game, when Liverpool had more rest coming into the game than ourselves,...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 15, 2025