Brendan Rodgers won't be sidetracked by Rangers narrative
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers stressed he would take no heed of media narratives surrounding Rangers as he prepares for his side's first derby clash of the season in the William Hill Premiership.
The champions go into the game two points ahead of their city rivals on the back of scoring nine goals without reply in their opening three league matches.
Rangers have been dealing with with an enforced exile from Ibrox amid building work and a Champions League exit at the first hurdle.
The financial gap between the sides is widening and Celtic's late transfer business appears to have put them at a further advantage.
Celtic will again have a monopoly of fans on Sunday after deciding not to offer Rangers tickets because they had not met their obligations to undertake safety work by the agreed deadline.
However, Rodgers knows there is no room for complacency.
"Their story is never created by us, that will be created by you guys about what you're maybe saying or what you think is happening," said Rodgers, who allayed fears over the fitness of Cameron Carter-Vickers.
"As professional football players and coaches, we prepare for the game and especially these games in particular.
"You know that there's a different psyche in them but for us we're coming into it in a really good place but we can never just assume that you don't have to do the work.
"You have to do all the dirty side of the game, you have to be together, you've got to be unified and then bring your football and see how difficult you can make it for the opponent."
Celtic are set to underline their financial advantage with participation in the new-look Champions League and Thursday's draw gave fans hope they can extend their run beyond eight matches.
The Hoops face trips to Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Aston Villa and Dinamo Zagreb and will host Club Brugge, Slovan Bratislava, RB Leipzig and Young Boys with sights set on a place in the top 24.
Rodgers said: "As I said before, we don't want to just participate in the competition. We want to be competitive in it and that's our chance.
"But we have to remember it's the elite level of club football and some people will look at some teams and think that's easy and that's not the way football works.
"The key thing is not to underestimate and not to assume that because we're playing Club Brugge that there are maybe not good players in there, or Red Bull Leipzig. Okay, you might not be playing the team that's won it 14 times (Real Madrid), but it doesn't mean the other teams aren't very good.
"But it does give us that confidence. I think now in our game and our model and how we're developing it gives us a real opportunity to make a mark at that level.
"The home games will be as tough in different ways to the away games. But we'll have the support. The stadium will be absolutely on fire and I cannot wait."
Carter-Vickers was absent from training on Friday but manager Rodgers said: "I just gave him a wee recovery. Sometimes we do that in our sessions if the players are overloaded.
"We measure and monitor that and can take one or two out and give them a recovery day having worked hard all week. So he's fine."
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