James Forrest: We're focused and ready to give our all on Sunday

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Celtic F.C.

·6. März 2026

James Forrest: We're focused and ready to give our all on Sunday

James Forrest is no stranger to the intensity of a derby weekend, given the fact that he has faced Rangers 36 times in his career so far and been on the winning side on 23 occasions.

His impact coming off the bench last Sunday at Ibrox was pivotal as the Hoops staged a second-half comeback to earn a point with a 2-2 draw, and he was to come off the bench again during the week at Pittodrie to set up Benjamin Nygren’s winner with 20 minutes of the match remaining.

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The veteran Celt could have a say this weekend when the Hoops return to Govan on Scottish Cup duty and ahead of that game, he says that he and his teammates are raring to go for another Glasgow derby. He said: “I’ve played in these games for years and you can say that it’s totally different, form can go out the window.

“You look at the game last week, we were miles off it in the first half and we rectified it in the second half, and the boys turned it around.

“It will be hard, but the manager and the coaches will look at the game from last Sunday and give us all the help they can.

‘Obviously it’s two games against Rangers at Ibrox and these are the games that all the boys and the fans want.’

“It was good that we got a good result (at Aberdeen) midweek, so now we can look forward to the game on Sunday.

“It’s a chance to get to Hampden and to the semi-final, and that’s the focus. Everyone in the changing room will be giving their all on Sunday.”

Sunday’s match will also see the Celtic support occupy the entirety of the Broomloan Road stand for the first time in eight years.

The prospect of having a massive support backing the Bhoys at Ibrox is something which Forrest says will be a benefit to the Celts.

He added: “It’ll be great for the cup tie and it’ll be great for us as well. Our fans last Sunday were really good even with the small allocation.

“On Sunday it’ll be really good to come out the tunnel, look to the left and see all of our fans there and hopefully we can give them something to shout about throughout the game.

“When the fans are behind us it’s unbelievable. You could see the other night at Aberdeen as well when it was 1-1, they were so loud and it helps us.”