STEVEN Gerrard says he has not given next Sunday’s meeting with Celtic a moment’s thought.

The rest of the Scottish football public might be working themselves into a frenzy wondering how his side will fare at Celtic Park against his old boss Brendan Rodgers, but the Englishman claims he is refusing to buy into the hype around the Old Firm fixture.

Ten matches unbeaten in all competitions, Gerrard has plenty to take his mind off his first taste of the Glasgow derby. First there is today’s excursion to Fir Park to face Motherwell – a match which will be played out amid the backdrop of some rather unsavoury comments from the Lanarkshire side’s captain Peter Hartley about how it had been “fun” to watch Fabio Cardoso “weeping” with a broken nose after a match last season.

There then follows an arduous trip to Russia for the second leg against FC Ufa on Thursday before the most monumental week of his time in the job culminates in the East End of Glasgow.

“I haven’t thought about the Old Firm,” said Gerrard. “I can honestly say to you, I am not obsessed about Celtic. I don’t know how many times I need to say it. I am obsessed with being successful as the Rangers manager. I could lose every Old Firm game I go into and still win the league. So why should I be obsessed with Celtic?”

Whether his supporters share the same opinion, Gerrard is determined not to be defined by the Glasgow derby.

“Being candid and honest about it, it’s the game up here in this league,” he said. “All the media and all the public magnify it, whether you win or lose. If you win, you are the best in the world. If you lose, you are the worst in the world. I understand that. I get it. I signed up for it, I am in.

“But I am not going to buy into this obsession. I am going to focus on my team and being successful as the Rangers manager. I want to win every single game I go into. You can see that’s the plan. We will try to do that and see where it takes us.”