Celtic legend Henrik Larsson has insisted that the Old Firm derbies were the most exciting and the fiercest games he ever played in.
The Hoops, who beat Greenock Morton 3-0 in the Scottish Cup last month, set up a semi-final date with their arch-rivals Rangers at Hampden on Monday.
It will be just the second meeting between the two giants of Scottish football since Rangers had to start in the fourth tier following their liquidation in 2012; Celtic beat the Gers 2-0 in the Scottish League Cup last season.
And Larsson, who also played for Barcelona against Real Madrid in his playing career, hinted that the Old Firm derby is even more intense than El Clasico.
“I think they were the most exciting games to play”, he was quoted as saying by the Herald Scotland.
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“I never experienced something, either before or after, that compared to my Old Firm games in Scotland because that was the best atmosphere and the most fierce encounters that I ever played in.
“It’s a game where you need to be able to handle your emotions.”
Larsson, who played at Celtic between 1997 and 2004, featured in numerous Old Firm derbies during his time in Scotland.
The ex-Sweden international helped Celtic to four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.
