Murty ready for his kids to come of age as Hampden heroes
THE journey from Auchenhowie to Ibrox is one that few set out on and even fewer ever complete. For the next generation of Rangers hopefuls, the latest stop will be Hampden.
After Celtic successes in the Glasgow Cup and the Scottish Cup, the countdown is on to a third Old Firm fixture at a third different level. There will be no 50,000 strong crowd this time around, but there will be silverware at stake.
The prospect of lifting the Scottish Youth Cup on the hallowed turf will inspire Graeme Murty’s side tomorrow night. It is the chance to impress that will motivate them, though.
Boss Pedro Caixinha has cast his eye over the kids in the Light Blue youth ranks and put his faith in Myles Beerman and David Bates.
Those under Murty’s guidance are old enough, now they must prove that they are good enough and have what it takes to thrive at Ibrox.
“The vast majority of the players have been in training with the first team,” Murty said. “The manager has cast his eye over them and the opportunities are there.
“I keep on telling them, talent is not enough. You to have a particular mindset and a will to play for this football club.
“That’s what will be tested in this game. That’s why we have gone as young as we have. We want them to be stressed, we want them to struggle.
“We’ve done it in the Under20s league, but we’ve made sure we’ve supported that struggle and make it a longterm thing.
“It’s not about this Wednesday or Saturday, it’s a two or three year thing. We will support them all the way through it but this is a really good stepping stone in the journey.”
Murty has stepped back into his role as head coach of the development squad in recent weeks after a spell in the dugout and stint on Caixinha’s coaching staff.
His first season at Ibrox has been an eventful one and it could also be a successful one if he can lead his side to victory over Celtic at the National Stadium.
The silverware would be a marker of their success, but the ultimate goal is far bigger and more important than the outcome of one fixture.
Murty said: “It falls on the coach to point out the benefits of these games. There’s a danger you get really performance or results orientated.
“We’re not about that. We are about development. These players are probably two years ahead of cycle. We have an average age of 17.5 in this competition.
“We are in a 20s final with an Under-18 team. Every single player on Wednesday will be eligible next year, the majority the year after that and a few of them in three years’ time.
“We’re looking at their growth and development. They have exceeded our aspirations for them this year but, as I’ve told them, this is a game against Celtic, I shouldn’t have to motivate them.
“They should be desperate to go and win it and I am sure they will be.”
MURTY bowed out from first-team duty at Parkhead last month as his side earned a draw and Caixinha watched from the stands.
His next Old Firm experience will be at the other end of the scale as he looks to guide his Under-20s to Hampden glory.
The contrast is stark, but the approach will remain the same for Murty as he places familiar demands on his players.
He said: “It’s completely different and a different set of circumstances.
“The game plan will be fitted to what we want to try to do, while recognising they have talented players and minimising their impact.
“The game plan will be something the players understand but ultimately I stand by the fact, as it is the first team, it’s about player turning up on the day and expressing themselves.
“They have to be concentrated enough to see things, but confident to go and express themselves.
“It would be nice [to win], but I don’t want to put any more pressure on the players than they are already feeling. They are not carrying all the hopes of Rangers supporters worldwide.
“They are a young group of players going out to experience a Youth Cup Final.
“They will be wanting to win it for their personal reasons and if we do, it would be fantastic for the club as a whole.
“But this group have to realise it’s about them first in this game, and making sure they do their job.
“Hopefully the result will take care of itself and we can go back to Ibrox happy.”
Murty may no longer be working with Caixinha on a daily basis, but he still has a key part to play in the Portuguese’s Ibrox blueprint.
The progress of Gers kids through the Auchenhowie ranks will be crucial if Rangers are to re-establish themselves in top spot in Scotland.
AND Murty is pleased to have an insight into how Caixinha operates and what he expects as he settles into life in Light Blue.
Murty said: “As a young coach at Norwich, one of the things on my bucket list was to get a team to come to Hampden for a final.
“It’s good to put the focus back on the players and look at their long-term plans, which is what I was brought in to do.
“It was really good to watch him [Caixinha] work, to see the detail and planning he does. It’s been good to see a different way of thinking about the game.
“He is very clear in his messages and was very kind to me, in terms of involving me in a lot of it.
“I found it really beneficial to look at his long-term planning and to address how that can work for me as well.”
It’s not about this Wednesday or Saturday, it’s a two or three year thing. We will support them all the way through it, but this is a really good stepping stone in the journey