PEDRO BATTLE CRY FOR PITTODRIE WAR

PEDRO CAIXINHA insists he will relish the hostile Pittodrie atmosphere as he leads Rangers into battle against Aberdeen.

The Light Blues head into their must-win clash with Derek McInnes’s side 12 points adrift of the Dons in the Premiership standings.

Rangers have drawn their last two top flight clashes against Motherwell and Kilmarnock and Caixinha will now get his first experience of one of Scottish football’s fiercest rivalries on Sunday.

He said: “I am just one guy that tries to do his work the best possible way, defending all the time the club that he is representing and the players that I am

trying to make better. Maybe hell is a strong word you describe it. We came from hell to hostile and now we are finished with a challenge.

“That is the reason you do this separately, to take one word from there, another from here and maybe another. But I respect that.

“The more hostile or challenging the environment, we are already expecting that. So I prepare for it, I love it. I was missing playing and coaching under those conditions. The players will love it as well.”

Caixinha will use the remaining Premiership outings to assess his squad as he considers his options for his first full campaign at the helm next time out.

But there are still key battles to be won for Rangers this term as the countdown continues to the Old Firm double-header later this month.

The Dons clash will be the biggest test that Caixinha has faced as Gers boss and he is determined his side will rise to the challenge this weekend.

He said: “I am not going to buy that war. But I need to be prepared for the challenge.

“I really love the games when there is a big tradition between the sides. Do I expect it to be hostile?

“That’s part of football. Once the ball is moving the players will be focused on the game and the fans will be focused on the team.

“If they are more focused on me and not supporting their team I will be glad because they are not supporting their team.

“I don’t have wide shoulders but I can cope with that if it releases our players to play the game with emotional balance and focusing on the game.”