ARIBO LENNON MIND GAMES WON’T WORK ON US
Rangers star hits back at Celtic manager’s claims
RANGERS star Joe Aribo has told Neil Lennon he’ll never get into the heads of the Ibrox stars. The Hoops boss cranked up the mind games last week when he claimed his side’s 2-0 win at Hearts piled pressure on Rangers.
But the Light Blues responded at Easter Road on Friday night with
one of their most impressive victories of the season as they thumped Hibs 3-0.
Celtic re-established their fivepoint lead at the top of the Premiership with their hardfought win over Aberdeen at the weekend, although Rangers have a game in hand.
The Ibrox men entertain Kilmarnock on Boxing Day as Celtic travel to St Mirren before the Old Firm showdown at Parkhead on December 29.
Aribo insists the only voices in the heads of he and his Rangers team-mates are from Steven Gerrard and his coaching staff, urging them to continue their recent run of fine form.
Asked if their mentality is too strong to allow anyone else in, Aribo said: “I would say so, yeah. We don’t need to look at what anyone else is saying because they’re not on the pitch.
“We are not really watching them [Celtic] too much. We just know we have to win every single game. If we’re doing that then we’re doing the right thing. We don’t really have to look at what’s going on over there.
“I have the same pressure going into every game, knowing we have to win. Nothing changes.
“People are going to say things and try to get into our heads. We just have to stay focused.”
Meanwhile, Rangers have signed highly-rated teenager Nathan Patterson on a new deal until the summer of 2022.
The 18-year-old has been tipped as successor to James Tavernier and is already training with Gerrard’s first-team squad.
Patterson has been with the club for a decade and is relishing the chance to challenge for a firstteam place over the next two years. He said: “I want to stay and try and make my place in the team. It’s good to know you have enough time to progress.”