Baur Calls for Celtic to Show Fight in Crucial Rangers Derby

Mika Baur has urged his Celtic teammates to adopt a fighting mentality and high energy levels when they face derby rivals Rangers, emphasizing that victory will depend on grit rather than skillful play.

The midfielder's call comes after a series of concerning performances, including a derby defeat to Rangers and a loss against Ferencvaros. Supporters have been left bewildered not just by the results, but by the "abject nature" of the team's surrenders in these high-profile matches.

"We will not win it through beautiful football and nice plays," Baur stated. "Maybe we will score through it, but we will win the game on Sunday with mentality and energy. That’s what everybody should bring into the match on."

Celtic has conceded eleven goals in their last three significant matches, leading to mounting pressure ahead of the Rangers encounter. Baur acknowledged the team's recent struggles, noting, "In the first half, it was just two easy goals. We started well in the match, the first minutes we were really pushing forward. Then I don’t know why we stopped. We played a lot of times at the back."

He further elaborated on the team's shortcomings, identifying a failure to win crucial duels and a tendency to make "really stupid mistakes." Baur also pointed to a concerning loss of risk-taking in the final third, which allowed opponents to gain momentum.

"If more hard yards were run and more dirty work was got through against the Hungarians, then it was barely noticeable," the notes from one match report indicate.

Despite the recent setbacks, Baur believes the 60,000 fans at the stadium can be an advantage. "So, we should use that," he insisted. "We need everyone. The players will give 100 per cent on the field and we need everybody else to get that energy back and win on Sunday."

This pivotal match comes after a week of mixed emotions for the 22-year-old Baur, who celebrated his first call-up to the German national squad under Jürgen Klopp. However, he remains focused on the team's immediate needs. "It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s a big honour and I’m really proud of it. But I really don’t want to talk about something individual at the moment. It’s all about Sunday. It’s really important for us, for Celtic."