IN Scotland people either support Celtic or Rangers or, if they don’t follow either team, hate the pair of them. However, Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer argues that every fan should get behind the Glasgow giants as they attempt to reach the last 16 of the Europa League this week.
Rangers take a slender 3-2 lead to Portugal on Wednesday after their come-from-behind victory over Braga while any kind of win – or a goal-less draw – against FC Copenhagen at Parkhead will see Celtic progress.
Dyer wants both teams to go through, claiming that every Premiership club has benefited from their feats on foreign fields and that their success will give a financial shot in the arm to the top tier.
“They’ve both done exceptionally well and it’s good for the game up here whenever the teams who qualify for Europe do well,” the 54-year-old insisted. “It’s good for Scottish football because they’re shouting it out all over the continent about these results.
“It’s better for everybody - it should help to produce better players and it can also help us attract better players when they see teams from the Premiership progressing in Europe. It’s lifting the profile of Scottish football.
“Another thing it does, with these matches being broadcast live everywhere, is improve the perception of the standard in this country. The success of Celtic and Rangers has taken it up another level.
“It’s also important because it should help to attract bigger and better sponsorship deals for the SPFL as well as better players so I love it when I see our clubs – all of them – winning in Europe because we all benefit from that.”
Dyer takes his Killie side to Celtic Park this afternoon but he points out that being able to put one over either of the Old Firm when the likes of Lazio, Rennes, FC Porto and Feyenoord have failed to do that this term will go along way to helping Killie, Hearts, Livingston attract new signings.
“That’s what it’s all about – going up against those clubs and beating them or getting at least a draw,” he said. “That shows that the division is getting stronger and that the big two aren’t dominating in the same way that they did before.
“We can go up against them and get results. We beat Rangers 2-1 at Rugby Park the other week so their European exploits would suggest that we’re not a bad side. That can help us when it comes to persuading people to join us.
“Now we need to go to Celtic Park and do something similar. We’ve had good results there before and we’ll have some more there as well. We know it’s Celtic but we’ll go there, stick our chests out and give it the best we can - I’ve no worries about getting a good performance against Celtic. They are a good team but so are we.”
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