Jonjoe Kenny brands Celtic and Rangers the biggest derby as Everton diehard shrugs off Liverpool cauldron

Former Celtic loanee Jonjoe Kenny has said that the Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers is bigger than the Merseyside derby.

The 25-year-old, who grew up an Everton supporter, came through the youth ranks at Goodison Park and joined Celtic on a six-month loan deal in the second-half of the 2021/21 season. He made 14 appearances in all competitions for Neil Lennon’s side, which included two derby day clashes against Rangers.

Kenny joined top-flight German side Hertha Berlin this summer after rejecting a three-year deal at his boyhood club, opting to return to the Bundesliga following a successful spell with Schalke after his Parkhead loan. The right-back grew up watching the derby between Liverpool and Everton from the stands but has admitted that the Glasgow showdown is the biggest, he’s played in, even though there was no fans in attendance when he was on loan during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to German outlet Morgenpost , Kenny said: “The biggest (derby) is the Glasgow derby, but unfortunately there were no fans there. Playing with Everton against Liverpool was particularly emotional.

"Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve kind of hated Liverpool. It was always my dream to play against them, and luckily, I did.”

Hertha get their Bundesliga campaign underway against bitter rivals Union Berlin in August and Kenny, who has plenty experiences of derby’s, added: “(I know) what a derby win means to the Hertha fans. Those are games you look forward to, where you fight to win at all costs.”

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