Caixinha wants Rangers to finish with flourish
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has challenged his players to finish the season with a flourish after his side clinched third place in the Scottish Premiership. The Glasgow giants now cannot be caught by fourth-place St Johnstone following their 2-1 win over 10-man Hearts at Ibrox on Saturday. Despite having nothing to play for in their final two matches, Caixinha wants his players to sign off the season in style with victories against Aberdeen and St Johnstone.
“It is all about winning,” Caixinha said. “It is going to be the last working week before a short period of vacation and return again. “The working week is ready. I am always working in advance and depending on what is going on, I make some changes after I analyse the game. “We want to finish good and until the last moment they are here and I am here, we can think only about winning.”
Rangers trail second-place Aberdeen, beaten 3-1 by champions Celtic on Friday, by six points ahead of Wednesday’s clash at Ibrox, but have a vastly inferior goal difference. Joe Garner headed Rangers into a sixth-minute lead before Prince Buaben was shown a straight red for Hearts midway through the half. The Jambos grabbed a 51st-equaliser through Isma Goncalves, but Barrie McKay fired Rangers in front again a minute later. Caixinha confirmed the process of bringing in new recruits was well under way, with a number of players also expected to leave Ibrox during the close season. One of those departing is former Queens Park Rangers defender Clint Hill, after the 38-year-old confirmed he has not been offered a new contract.
“I will be moving on, unfortunately. It has been a great year,” the veteran defender said. “It has been hard on the pitch in terms of performances, but it has been brilliant for me to play at this club. “Obviously you are a little bit disappointed because when you play at such a big club, you want it to last as long as possible. “But I have been in football long enough to know that when a new manager comes in they have different ideas, different personnel. “So I am just trying to enjoy every minute as if it’s my last and hopefully I will only take good memories away.” — AFP