Winning approach: With just one defeat in 19 Old Firm derbies, Celtic boss Rodgers will stick with his tried and trusted method in bid for first silverware of the season

Since he first took charge of a Celtic team against Rangers back in 2016, Brendan Rodgers has viewed the days immediately preceding such clashes as a delicate balancing act.

Acutely aware of the heightened tension within Glasgow, the Northern Irishman has never wasted his breath by claiming the derbies are just another game. To do so, he contends, would do his players no favours.

He also sees a danger in over-egging the pudding. Individuals can easily become too tense about the consequences of what they do or do not do across 90 minutes. An anxious mind is rarely conducive to them performing at their optimal level.

After suffering just one defeat in 19 derbies, by some distance the best managerial record in the history of the fixture, it would be a brave man to take issue with his tried and trusted approach.

‘That’s what I’ve always done and it’s worked out okay for us,’ he said with some understatement.

‘I would say it’s not any other game. It’s an iconic game. It’s an amazing game for everyone to be involved in. But then there comes a point when you have to really focus in on the process because that’s ultimately what allows you to win such a great game.

The Celtic manager isn’t a fan of trying to play down the magnitude of an Old Firm encounter

Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after making it 2-0 to Celtic in September’s Old Firm victory

‘So, that’s more what the slant is on. The game’s special. The game’s an incredible game to be involved in. The atmosphere, the tension. People want tickets from everywhere to go to the game, so that’s not lost on me.

‘But, from a coaching and managerial perspective, what allows you to perform and what allows us to perform is to stay calm, to look at our tactical idea within the game and how we then pitch that to the players so they can go and play. And, in the main, I feel we’ve done that pretty well.’

The 15 victories Rodgers has presided over across two spells has made a mockery of the old cliché about the form book going out of the window on such occasions.

The dominant side in Scotland this century, Celtic’s results over Rangers in one-off matches have largely been reflective of the times.

Which is not to say that the Ibrox club aren’t capable of striking a blow for the underdog at Hampden. Philippe Clement’s side ran Celtic close in last season’s Scottish Cup final and have played their way back into form. Rodgers is wary of the outcome being decided by small margins.

‘There’s always something that can go against you,’ he warned. ‘So, it’s preparing and expecting that.

‘But, going into these games, it’s never so much about who we play, it’s about how we play and that’s always been a real focus. So, going in and playing how we want to, that’s always put us in a really good place.’

Rodgers was able to watch Rangers empty the tank in their draw with Tottenham from the comfort of his sofa having returned from Zagreb in the early hours of Wednesday.

With two days fewer to recover from Europe, the preparation of Clement’s team isn’t ideal, but Rodgers won’t let his players fall into the trap of believing they’ll be weary.

‘We’ve done it before ourselves,’ he said. ‘We played with very limited time to recover and played very good games. So, it doesn’t really come into it.

‘It’s one where we, of course, have had an extra couple of days. But it’s the final. Every team that arrives in the final will give everything to pick up the trophy.’

If anything, Rodgers feels the fact Rangers were annoyed at not having taken the scalp of Spurs should act as a warning. As maddeningly inconsistent as Clement’s players have been, they unquestionably have big performances in them.

There was certainly no gulf in class when the sides last met at Hampden, in the Scottish Cup final in May. Celtic’s late winner that day came through fresh legs coming off the bench — Paulo Bernardo’s run and shot leading to Adam Idah scoring.

Having taken their eye off the ball in the last 16 of this competition at Kilmarnock last season, Celtic could only watch on from afar as Clement’s side beat Aberdeen to take the cup out of their hands.

Celtic skipper Callum McGregor goes through his paces in training

If any added motivation is needed, it’s provided by the empty space in the trophy cabinet.

‘Well, we don’t have it,’ said Rodgers. ‘It is something that we didn’t take last season, and clearly, it’s the first trophy of the season.

‘We’ve had a brilliant season up until now, and this would be a great way to have something tangible to show for that. But you have to earn it and that’s what we’re ready for.’

Rodgers’ sides saw off Aberdeen and Motherwell in League Cup finals in his first spell in charge. Should he come out on top again, a win over Rangers would be his tenth trophy as Celtic manager.

‘I’ll look back on that once I’m finished and once I’m done,’ he stressed. ‘Going into these games, the wins at Hampden and everything else, it doesn’t really count for much, really. Just because you’ve won before doesn’t mean you can’t turn up and not prepare.

‘I know what it means to people, this game. You never get tired of them or bored of them. They’re incredible games to be involved in. It’s such an iconic fixture throughout the world.

‘So, to have the possibility to have maybe four, five, six of them in the season is absolutely amazing. Like I said, they’re all challenges, but I think this is what we’re built for. The tougher the challenge, then that is what we relish.’