RANGERS CRASH OUT OF EUROPE
Pedro faces fan fury after Euro humbling
PEDRO CAIXINHA was confronted by raging fans last night as Rangers suffered Europa League humiliation.
The Portuguese gaffer had abuse hurled at him outside of the Stade-Josy Barthel stadium and apologised to supporters after his new-look team went down 2-0 in Luxembourg.
But Caixinha defiantly argued he’s still the man for the job and believes he will get the club back to the top, despite the Progres disaster.
The Gers boss admitted
the defeat was the most dismal result of his managerial career. Angry travelling Light Blues fans gathered outside the Stade-Josy Barthel and chanted “out, out, out” as the Portuguese emerged from the stadium and the players were also hounded after the embarrassment. Around 300 supporters were yelling at the team bus at 11pm local time – a full 90 minutes after the game had finished. But Caixinha vowed to fight back from the disastrous Euro exit. He said: “Yes, of course. If I’m not showing strength to move the things forward, then I couldn’t be in this chair. “So I’m strongly convinced I can do it, I’m strongly convinced I have the group to do it and I believe I need to be here to take the group forward. “It is again something which is part of a match when the results are not coming.” Caixinha apologised to the fans and added: “I am the first face they (fans) come against and, if you don’t deliver results, you have to expect that. The fans are going to demand from you. “I know coming to a massive club like this that, when these things happens, I am the one who is going to be on the front line. “I respect that but I will keep doing my job going forward. “It is always a setback being out in this qualifier knowing you are better than the opponent. “We did everything to get the result and it might happen just once in a lifetime. One of things which was said before the game was unthinkable and it has really happened.
“But I know this group is going to be on the top again and is going to build very good things for the club.
“One word for the fans, they are the only ones that never deserve this sort of thing, they need to be angry at this moment and we understand they are angry.
“But we ask them to keep believing in the team and have loyalty because the team will come good.”
As Rangers fans wake this morning to the devastation, Caixinha confirmed one crumb of consolation.
The club have finally landed Graham Dorrans after the Norwich City midfielder agreed a three-year deal.
Dorrans has been a top target for Caixinha all summer and will complete his move to Ibrox on Thursday after the clubs agreed a £750,000 fee.
Rangers had previously failed with two bids for the 30-year-old Scotland international.
And they faced late competition from Sunderland for the former Livingston youngster’s signature.
But Rangers were granted permission to speak with the player on Sunday and Caixinha has finally landed his man.
Dorrans will finalise his move after undergoing a medical with the Ibrox side which is set to be held on Thursday.
He is Caixinha’s ninth summer signing following on from Bruno Alves, Daniel Candeias, Carlos Pena, Eduardo Herrera, Dalcio, Ryan Jack, Alfredo Morelos and Fabio Cardoso.