Caixinha couldn’t makeany Progres
NOT many people associated with Rangers will have fond memories of Pedro Caixinha after his ill-fated seven months in charge at Ibrox.
But Ross McCrorie will forever be indebted to the Portuguese manager for handing him his top-team breakthrough.
The emergence of McCrorie is arguably the biggest positive of Caixinha’s short tenure where a 3-0 win at Aberdeen was the only result that hinted at the possibility of success.
McCrorie replaced the injured Bruno Alves during a Betfred Cup tie at Partick Thistle and was described afterwards by Caixinha as having the potential to become one of the best ever central-defenders produced by Scotland.
The manager then showed his faith in the 19-year-old by throwing him into the Old Firm derby just days after his debut at Firhill.
McCrorie admitted Caixinha’s words were a huge a boost and on his sacking said: “That’s football but I’m thankful he gave me the chance and I’ll never forget it.
“It was great to hear what he said about me after my debut. It gave me extra confidence and a boost.
“I had the Old Firm game on the Saturday so for him to say that was great. He gave me that building block to build on and hopefully I can push on.
“I’ve not texted him but if I see him again I’ll say thanks. I was grateful for what he did.
“Managers tend to go in football. He worked really hard and tried his best but managers come and go if results aren’t going well.
“He did a lot for me. I had my two loan spells at Ayr United and Dumbarton and they helped me a lot. When I came back to Rangers that’s what made me better. Then Pedro gave me the chance and gave me that extra boost and that helped a lot.”
McCrorie is waiting to find out who the next Rangers boss will be but is taking it in his stride. The teenager at least has a familiar face in the dugout in caretaker boss Graeme Murty who he has worked with at Under-20 level.
Murty put his trust in McCrorie when he preferred him to veteran Alves last time out and the youngster repaid the caretaker boss with a goal in the 3-0 win over Partick Thistle.
It was a huge moment for the stopper but he revealed Ryan Hardie slaughtered him for his celebration, when McCrorie slid on his knees to lap up the acclaim of the home fans.
The club-mates are preparing for Scotland Under-21’s Euro 2019 qualifier against Ukraine at McDiarmid Park tonight.
Asked if he had watched his goal back, McCrorie laughed and said: “Ryan showed me it a couple of times and slagged me about my celebration!
“I didn’t have one planned. I just went for the knee slide to be honest. I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do. It was a dream come true.”
McCrorie admitted it was strange to be given the nod ahead of Euro 2016 winner Alves who has also won multiple major club honours.
However, he revealed the Portuguese veteran took time out to speak to him before the game and the Scot also praised defensive partner Danny Wilson’s influence.
Rangers host Hamilton on Saturday and McCrorie said: “We will wait and see what happens when I go back, if I am still playing or not.
“It was great for Graeme Murty to trust me and Danny to play. Bruno is a great player as well and he can come in at any time too.
“Before the game he was speaking to me and talking me through different scenarios in the game. He was just saying good luck and all the best.
“It’s a great dressing room and we all look out for each other. If we can help each other, it helps the team. Danny’s great. He’s a really good talker on the pitch.
“If there’s a striker on my shoulder or something he’s always talking to me and telling me where other players are. He’s a great player.
“He helps me a lot because he has been in the same position – he was a young player at Rangers coming through. He’s really good for me.
“All the guys chip in to be honest. Before the Old Firm game, Kenny Miller sat me down and just talked me through it.” RANGERS star Daniel Candeias admits Pedro Caixinha’s card was marked at Ibrox after European humiliation against Progres Nierderkorn.
The Portuguese coach was eventually sacked following a dismal league draw against Kilmarnock with the hunt for his successor still ongoing.
Rangers crashed out of Europa League qualifying at the first hurdle following an embarrassing aggregate defeat to the Luxembourg side, and Candeias reckons it left the boss facing an uphill battle.
Although the winger insists Caixinha gave it his all, it was a struggle he eventually lost, with Candeias claiming defeat to Motherwell in the Betfred Cup semi-final was a game-changer.
He said: “The Europe elimination marked the season for Caixinha.
“The club wanted to play in Europe and it wasn’t possible. But the manager gave everything for the club and protected the group.
“It was in that Motherwell game that everything changed. We were clearly the best team but there were strange things in that game.
“They broke Fabio Cardoso’s nose and didn’t get a yellow. It was tough.”
ROSS McCRORIE