Charlie Nicholas fires Celtic dig at Michael Beale as Rangers boss told he'll need to be the 'lucky man' at Hampden

Charlie Nicholas reckons Rangers boss Michael Beale will need to be the "lucky man" to get the better of Ange Postecoglou in the Viaplay Cup final.

The two Glasgow giants meet at Hampden on Sunday as Postecoglou and Beale go to battle for only the second time with both as managers. The first game ended all square and while Celtic have a commanding nine-point lead at the top of the Premiership, Rangers have matched them blow for blow since Beale returned to the club.

That draw at Ibrox was the only time either have dropped points since, but Celtic go into Sunday's massive game favourites and Nicholas reckons that's for good reason. Writing in his Scottish Daily Express column, Nicholas referenced Beale's prior comments branding Postecoglou a 'lucky man' as he said: "Michael Beale will become the 'lucky man' in Glasgow if his Rangers team manages to beat Celtic and lift the League Cup. Sitting in the Celtic camp, I do expect Celtic to win the cup final this weekend. I think Beale has made Rangers better but there is still a gap. Celtic’s squad is much stronger than Rangers. That is an absolute fact.

"Beale is trying to play catch-up. He is not going to win the title. He will know that but will never admit it until it is done. It would still be an amazing capture for Beale to lift the trophy after just coming through the door. Beale is quite an inventive coach and I am sure he will come up with a little tweak here or there.

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