Mohamed Diomande: Squad Are Feeling Good

MOHAMED DIOMANDE feels Rangers can take belief from their last Old Firm victory as they target three derby wins in a row tomorrow.

The Light Blues will host their city rivals in the final meeting between the two teams this season at Ibrox, off the back of a 3-2 success when they last faced off in March with the midfielder firing in the crucial second goal that day.

Speaking to the media in this afternoon’s press conference ahead of the game, he commented: “We are feeling good, it is a game for our fans and for us also to try beat our rivals so we are looking forward to the game.

“It is important because we always want to beat them.

“We know the rivalry is from a long time ago and we know what it means for the fans and for the people that came to support us after a very long time they couldn't come in to support us at Parkhead, but it was good to get a win over there.

“It is always nice to score against your direct rivals and I was happy to score against them.

“It is going to mean something to our fans.

“This is going to be my first time playing with the Celtic fans at Ibrox.

“I don't know how it is going to be but we play for ourselves and we play for our fans.

“We want to make the people in blue happy so we will try and do that.”

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020525 Press Conference, Mohamed Diomande 07

The Ivory Coast international has spoken of the key elements in victory in these fixtures, highlighting the battle of midfield in coming out on top.

He continued: “Giving the team belief if they can get three derby wins? I think that also is the belief, we won against them twice but it is the other games that we struggle.

“I don't see any problem for tomorrow's game because I know we are going to be ready for the game and I know that is something that happens every time we play against Celtic.

“We know we could push in the other games because I know we are going to be ready for the game tomorrow because that is what everybody is watching and our fans want us to beat them and we are going to be ready to deliver that.

“The key factor? You need to dominate in the middle, because I know they also have good midfielders and they also have good strikers.

“We need to dominate in the middle obviously and then we need to take our chances.

“That is important and to defend as a team.

“Most of their game is based in the middle and their best attacks start from the middle.

“If we are up front and we dominate the middle then we have a chance and like we did in the other games we dominated there and got the win.”

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020525 Training, Clinton Nsiala, Mohamed Diomande & Hamza Igamane 50

The 23-year-old has highlighted the influence of head coach and former midfielder Barry Ferguson since his arrival, helping him evolve his game further.

He added: “I think he has been helpful to me and also to the other midfielders.

“Even now, I know it is a difficult moment for everybody but he is always there to push me and I am trying to get better every day. I am open-minded and I listen to him.

“He also listens to me, because I think I have some understanding of the game also and we just grow as people.

“I know it is a difficult moment now but we push each other and I am happy that he is pushing me.

“I think he knew the kind of player I was.

“He just needed to shift some things and give me some of his ideas and I picked them up quickly. I think he also has trust in me and I showed him I am ready to play under him.”

  


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