Former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney has opened up about the hostile reception he got from the Rangers fans.
Discussing his toughest away ground, the England legend admitted that it was Ibrox due to an incident that took place in 2010.
At the time, he had left Everton and cemented himself as a star for Manchester United, but was under pressure as he had asked to leave Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney admits Celtic links did not sit well with Rangers fans
Rooney revealed that, as he is a big fan of Celtic, he sat in the Celtic end at Ibrox to watch an Old Firm derby.
Having played there before for Everton in a pre-season game, the Englishman knew what it meant to play in that massive stadium.
He returned to Glasgow a few years later with Manchester United to take on the Light Blues in the Champions League.
At that time, he was under pressure to perform and admits that the Ibrox faithful remembered his Celtic allegiance and the fact that he sat in the away end during an Old Firm derby.
During the game, he was constantly booed by the home support, and while he did end up scoring, it was not a pleasant away day for him.
On the Wayne Rooney Show, he was asked about his most hostile away ground.
“Rangers, Rangers away in 2010,” Rooney replied.
He continued: “I think it was. Well, I played there for Everton in a pre-season game, and I’m a big Celtic fan. And then I went to Ibrox to watch the Old Firm, to watch the Celtic game there.
“So I sat in the Celtic end. So I think they obviously were aware of that as well. And so when we went in 2010, they battered me.
“It was not long, I think, after I had asked to leave Manchester United and then I’d signed. So I was under pressure as well to perform.
“So I scored and went off celebrating. But yeah, it was a real hostile performance.”
What Celtic can expect going into the Old Firm derby
If someone like Rooney, who never even played for Celtic, felt that way going into a game at Ibrox, it certainly will be scary for the Hoops who play back-to-back games there.
This season, there is a real chance for Rangers to win the league as well as the Scottish Cup, and silence their arch rivals.
Danny Rohl has managed to get his team into a title race, and the onus is on them to beat Celtic in the league and cup and go into the split on the front foot.
Hearts are still four points clear, but they will face the Gers again and will also drop points in other games.
Rangers beat Hearts 4-2 recently, so they will be confident going into any match against them in the coming weeks.
