Nacho says there will be no let-cup from Gerrard as he expects league champs to end 12-year wait
NACHO NOVO scored one of the goals of his life on a blazing hot summer’s day in 2009 to win Rangers the Scottish Cup.
But, 12 years on, he is still waiting for someone to emulate him.
The Spaniard’s stunning volley from Sasa Papac’s throw in, just seconds after coming on as a halftime sub against Falkirk at Hampden, remains the last time his former club won the trophy.
And Novo desperately hopes that come the end of the season another Rangers player has adopted his mantle as cup-winning hero.
The first step on the road to achieving that objective will be taken on Sunday night when Steven Gerrard’s men welcome Cove Rangers to Ibrox.
And while the Govan men will clearly be overwhelming favourites against the League One outfit, Novo believes they will take nothing for granted. He said: “It’s just really important that they go on now and win the Cup, after the league has been won.
“That’s what Rangers are all about – winning trophies – and it has been a long time since they’ve been able to do it.
“The club needs to win everything and I’m sure Steven will be making sure there is no let-up just because the title has been won. What he has done this season is incredible, but he will want more.
“They’ve got all the momentum and have a great chance of winning the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2009 but you know how football is sometimes.
“There are no guarantees, so they’ll have to just go step-by-step, and if they can win this trophy it will add to the hunger to keep winning more.”
Rangers’ only domestic defeat this term came in the Betfred Cup against St Mirren.
And Novo, who spent six seasons at Ibrox, winning three titles, two League Cups and that 2009 Scottish Cup, believes that loss in Paisley will be all the reminder Gerrard’s men need that nothing can be taken for granted.
He said: “Losing in the League Cup to St Mirren will have shown them that anything can happen.
“Rangers will have thought they could have won that trophy but that night proved that nothing can be taken for granted and that will help them in the Scottish Cup.
“Every game is a one-off and has to be taken seriously. The most important thing was winning the league this year and they’ve done that.
“But to win the league and cup double would be massive.
“They’ve not only been unbeatable in Scotland but what they did in
Europe was amazing and as well as the manager, the players must take credit for doing a fantastic job.
“I’m sure the confidence they will take from winning the league can be carried on into the cup and I’m sure Steven won’t let the standards drop.
“The players are too professional to take their foot off the gas anyway.”
Novo has ambitions to become a coach and is just waiting on a club to give him the opportunity and he admits he’s loved watching Gerrard create an identity for Rangers.
He said: “I really enjoy watching the way they play.
“The attacking football is great to see and I’d have loved to have played in that forward line with the number of chances they create.
“They all play for each other, as any Rangers team should play.
“For example if the manager makes a change after an hour, the new player comes in and you don’t notice the difference.
“They keep playing to the same level. The player who comes in plays at the same level as the guy who has gone off.
“Gerrard has changed the mentality and he has made some great signings.
The team is now performing at a really high level and you can’t ask for more from them.
“They’ve got the momentum now and they have to use it to try to get the Scottish Cup back to Ibrox.
“It’s been too long since Rangers won it. You have to remember that they were dropped down the leagues for a number of years, so that didn’t help.
“But the club has worked its way back to the top and it is now realistic to think that the Scottish Cup can be won.”
I’d love to have played in that forward line with all the chances they create NACHO NOVO
If and when that happens, Novo admits his mind will wander back to that May day in 2009.
He still grins when recalling it and remembers that he made quite the impact after coming on at the break for a struggling Kris Boyd – and made an immediate impact.
Novo said: “It was one of my greatest memories as a Rangers player, especially because I’d come on at half time and it was my very first touch after less than 30 seconds.
“Sasa took a throw in, I let the ball go across me and hit it perfectly. It was a great moment.
“Scott Arfield was playing for Falkirk that day and the last time I met him, we were talking about it.
“It was a good memory. We won the league and the Scottish Cup.
“I hope Rangers do the same again this season.”