CELTIC have nothing to prove at Ibrox on Sunday, insists Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The USA international centre-back celebrated his fourth successive title in the champions’ 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice at the weekend.
The Hoops have a 17-point advantage as they prepare to travel across Glasgow for the midday kick-off in the final derby encounter of the season.
Brendan Rodgers’ side coasted to a 3-0 win in the first meeting at Parkhead in September, but were on the receiving end on January 2 in Govan and then again in the east end of the city last month.
IN CONTROL…Cameron Carter-Vickers on the ball in the 5-0 title-clinching win at Tannadice.
Skipper Callum McGregor has already stated how important victory is in this latest episode of the fixture, as CQN reported earlier today.
Carter-Vickers agrees with his captain, but reckons Celtic have already demonstrated yet again they are the the country’s superior side.
The rock-solid defender, a £6million buy from Spurs in the summer of 2022 after an impressive season-long loan, said: “Some people might say set the record straight.
“But, for me, it’s not just one or two games in the season, but the whole 38. And I think we’ve shown over the games that we are the best team.
“We definitely want to win the game and put in a strong performance because, at the end of the day, we know it’s something that the fans care about and we care about also.
“We want to win EVERY game we play. And that’s no different for who is the opposition.
CUP THAT CHEERS…Cameron Carter-Vickers leads Reo Hatate and James Forrest in Celtic’s celebrations after the penalty-kick shoot-out success in the Premier Sports League Cup Final in December.
“We’ll have a couple of days where we can celebrate winning the league and then our full focus will be on that game and trying to win it.”
Twenty-seven-year-old Carter-Vickers, who has also picked up three League Cups and two Scottish Cups in his four years at Parkhead, admitted he will never tire of the sort of scenes of celebration that were evident after the final whistle on Tayside.
The no-frills back-four performer, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I don’t think so. Especially with the league.
“When you get around the stage where you can clinch the title and get that tied up, you definitely look forward to it because it just shows the effort and all the hard work we’ve put in for months now.
“That’s why, for me, the league is so special. You don’t win a league unless you have been giving it 100 per cent right from pre-season.
“But it all counts. We know that, that’s how we go into every season and it shows at this time of year.
“Personally, the league is the most important. Winning the league shows that throughout the season, the effort you put in, the consistency that you’ve shown.
“You only get to lift that if you deserve it. It’s a special feeling and something to be proud of.”
Carter-Vickers also hailed the achievement of team-mate James Forrest who surpassed legendary Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox as Celtic’s most decorated player.
HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers congratulate Nicolas Kuhn after the winger’s second goal to make it 3-0 against Dundee United. Adam Idah, Alistair Johnston and Callum McGregor are about to join in.
The 33-year-old winger picked up his 26th winners’ medal against Dundee United and hopes to add another honour when the holders face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on Saturday May 24.
Carter-Vickers added: “It’s unbelievable the amount of trophies he’s won, the amount of games he’s played and goals he’s scored. All the stats are amazing.
“We joke around with him. Ali Johnston always says to him: ‘You should have a statue outside Celtic Park, you’re a legend’.
“You know what James is like, he’s so humble. He’s like: ‘Nah, nah’ and laughs it off. You look at what he’s won and the stats that he’s got at this club, he’s definitely up there.
“He’s a top professional, he eats the right things, you always see him in the gym after training, stretching and stuff.
“You can see the example by what he does rather than just what he says. He’s definitely a leader in this team.”
