Rangers win saw Celtic fans smash bottles through my window but wife's cancer messages transcended rivalry - Jorg Albertz

The best game you can ever play in as a footballer.

That’s how I explain the Old Firm derby if somebody in Germany asks me about my experiences.

It’s unique. You can have great European nights at Ibrox and Celtic Park, especially when it’s the Champions League.

But the Old Firm … there is just something special about it.

When I joined Rangers it was a bit different because most of my team-mates were Scottish.

It was the same with Celtic at that time.

There were boys who told me when I arrived: “I’d rather beat Celtic four times than win the title.”

That was difficult for me to understand at the beginning.

I would rather be lifting a trophy at the end of the season – because that’s what it’s all about.

But, honestly, some players thought totally differently. And that shows just what it means.

Every foreign player who signs for Rangers or Celtic is told straight away how big the match is.

But when you see the hype in the week leading up to an Old Firm game, you can already feel it.

The training is more intense and you think: “Oh, this is different.”

So you look forward to it, especially your first derby.

Mine was at Ibrox in 1996. We won 2-0 and I set up both goals for Richard Gough and Paul Gascoigne.

What an experience it was. Standing in the tunnel, when you hear the noise it’s just incredible.

To this day, it’s very hard to explain to people what that’s like or what it means to the players.

This game is about history, isn’t it? I learned that it’s about more than football.

But I wasn’t interested in religion or anything like that when I came to Rangers. I just wanted to do everything to help my club.

And you have to give a little bit extra in an Old Firm game – 100 per cent isn’t enough. You realise you have to