During the Champions League final, the Manchester United icon was reminded of Rangers and Celtic.
Gary Neville was astounded by one aspect of the Champions League final that evoked Rangers and Celtic memories.
As a player, the Manchester United legend faced both sides of the Old Firm in Europe, where he experienced the iconic atmospheres that each club provides. He was in Munich over the weekend as PSG defeated Inter Milan in this season’s Champions League final, a boisterous affair made possible by a large French crowd.
Neville was full of admiration for the victorious team’s fans at the Allianz Arena. It did, however, bring back memories of some of the atmospheres he has played in, particularly those at Rangers and Celtic.
Gary Neville’s Rangers and Celtic flashback
He told It’s Called Soccer, “Well, if you’ve been to the Parc De Princes and seen PSG play, you know how the fans are.” But then to see that transposed to a different stadium, with maybe 20,000 to 25,000 people behind that goal to the left of where I was sitting. I mean, they were fantastic not only at 5-0, but also at 0-0 and 1-0.
“They were constant the whole way through the game. And Inter lost on the pitch, but they also lost, I think… I mean, Inter have got a great set of fans themselves. I’ve been in the San Siro where they’ve played against Inter Milan, it’s been an absolute fire pit of hostility.
“But last night, the PSG fans were unbelievable. I mean, one of the best performances I’ve seen from a group of fans, in my life, actually, I’ve seen great groups of fans, I’ve seen great atmospheres at Old Trafford or in Turkey, I’ve seen great atmospheres at Celtic Park or at Ibrox where you think, wow, this is something special. But last night from those PSG fans behind that goal, they were incredible.”
Neville’s previous praise of Old Firm
”But do you know something? When people say to me, other than Turkey and Galatasaray, that Ibrox for me is the best atmosphere that I’ve ever seen at an away ground at a football stadium. It’s absolutely incredible.”
With mention to Celtic, Neville has said in the past on the Overlap: “The best atmosphere I have seen in my life was Ibrox as the game was about to start. I thought what the ____ is this?! Celtic was loud and Galatasaray. Phil scored early on. Honestly, for the first couple of minutes before the game and when the game started. I have never seen anything like that in my life, noise Ibrox, honestly, it was unbelievable. Staggering.” Former Hoops midfielder Roy Keane fired back at his former Man Utd teammate: “Celtic Park is a better atmosphere, though, isn’t it.”
