Alloa boss Barry Ferguson is well-prepared for the inevitable abuse that comes his way when his side host Celtic in the Scottish Cup tonight – but he admits he needs his players to be as pumped up as he is to face Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Ferguson’s history against the Parkhead side is well-documented and the former Rangers captain is hoping his Wasps can sting the Premiership giants when they meet at Recreation Park.
The Alloa boss won’t be losing any sleep ahead of facing Celtic but he insists his players can’t show any fear as they look to cause a huge upset in the Fourth Round of the Cup.
“I’ll probably need a set ear muffs because I’m sure I’ll be getting a bit,” Ferguson said [Daily Record]. “But I have no problem with that. It’s banter. It’s what you expect.
“I’ll certainly not be losing any sleep over it, don’t worry about that. The most important thing for me is to get all the information to the players. On the day of the game I’ll be up to high doh, there’s no doubt about that. The heart will be pumping.
“But I need my players to feel the same way. Celtic are coming to town. Massive club. Big players. Live on TV. These guys are part time so this is their chance to showcase what they can do, maybe even show they should be playing at a higher level.
“There’s certainly no fear as far as I’m concerned. If you go into a game fearful then there’s only going to be one outcome.
“You’ve got to respect them but if you fear them they’ll run over the top of you. You’ve got to stand up to them. You’ve got to be brave. And that’s what I’ll ask from my players. If they do that, if they are strong mentally, then who knows?
“It’s chance for us to cause a huge upset but it’s going to be tough and we’ll need a slice of luck along the way.”
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