Johansen Expects Tough Old Firm Tie

Photo by Jeff Holmes Stefan Johansen insists Chris Sutton was "completely wrong" to suggest Celtic could win their Scottish League Cup semi-final clash with Rangers on Sunday wearing blindfolds. Hampden Park and indeed Scotland is bracing itself for the first meeting between the two sides in almost three years, since the Ibrox club re-emerged in the bottom tier of Scottish football following their descent into administration and liquidation. While Ronny Deila's team sit top of the Scottish Premiership and on course for a domestic treble - and also looking forward to a Europa League last-32 clash with Inter Milan next month - the Light Blues are second place in the Championship with promotion far from guaranteed. The match also takes place against an Ibrox backdrop of continuing boardroom strife, financial problems and with caretaker manager Kenny McDowall having signalled his intention to leave at the end of the season. However, when asked about the scathing comments from former Hoops striker Sutton, the 24-year-old Norwegian replied: "I think that's completely wrong. "It's a cup game and they will be up for it. We haven't met in three years. It's going to be a massive game. "We need to make sure we are ready. I don't know if we are the favourites, we don't think that way. "It's a tough game, Celtic versus Rangers is always a tough game and we know that. "It is a semi-final and the prize is a final and the chance to win a trophy. "You have to go there and play your game. And if we go out there and play the way we can then we have a good chance of winning." Johansen is excited about appearing in his first Old Firm game and can sense the excitement mounting in the city. The former Stromsgodset player, speaking at the club's Lennoxtown training complex, said: "I think it is going to be fun. "We played in the Champions League (qualifiers) and the crowd was amazing but I heard the Rangers versus Celtic games are massive so I am looking forward to taking part in that. "You want to play in big games and this is a big game." "You can feel in the city that it's a big game coming up. It's getting a lot of attention "You hear it wherever you go, even when you go to get your groceries. "It's a big game even in Norway you can see all the Norwegian journalists are here as well. It's one of the biggest games in the world. "I've watched the game when I was in Norway and Thomas Rogne played for Celtic. "We are just trying to prepare as best we can and we had a good training session today." Johansen does not know any of the Rangers players but insists he and his Hoops team-mates will be up to speed before kick-off. "I like to focus on my team and what we are going to do," he said. "Of course, we will watch them on video and they have some strengths but we have to focus on ourselves. "I respect the opponents we have in the league and people can speak about if Rangers should be there or not. "But I signed for Celtic to win trophies and whether Rangers are there or not, I just care about the next game and that is Rangers. "I am looking forward to it and all the guys are."