TALKING RANGERS
RANGERS are playing catch-up rather than leading the way. They are the hunters rather than the prey in the Premiership. Pedro Caixinha welcomes the chase, though.
On the eve of the first Old Firm game of the campaign, the Portuguese put his own modern-day twist on the famous words of legendary Ibrox boss Bill Struth.
After a year of failure last season, the tolerance of supporters was put to the test. Now it is Caixinha’s job to ensure Rangers emerge stronger.
The task is far from straightforward for the 46-year-old as he attempts to catch and then overhaul a side that swept all before them in Scotland last term.
In the big picture, a win at Ibrox tomorrow would only be small snapshot. It would be important nonetheless, for Rangers and the manager.
“I think we’re all aware we are here and five seasons ago the club was in League Two,” Caixinha said.
“Today the club is back in action and in these five seasons the club is investing and have been increasing that investment in order to not [be] welcoming the chase as Bill Struth once said but welcoming the chasing we are doing to get the club in that direction.
“We know that. We know that having a lot of investment on the work we are doing, on the renewal of the squad, on the organisation that we want the team to have, on the performance that we want the team to have and, of course, in each game competing for three points.
“So that’s the only thing we can do. Always thinking positively and always thinking that we can do the things to do our very best to win the game.”
Caixinha has recently celebrated his six-month anniversary at Ibrox and victory over Brendan Rodgers’ side would be a belated, but welcome, present to mark the occasion.
Having arrived from AlGharafa as a virtual unknown in Glasgow, the Gers boss still has critics to silence and doubters to win over. Whatever the future holds, Caixinha is relishing the present.
“I am the type of person where if I am not enjoying something or living it I cannot do it,” he said.
“I am all in or I am all out. I cannot live in the middle. So I can say that I am enjoying managing anaging Rangers totally lly and I am definitely all in.
“About the e job, I am all in. It’s s a fantastic job, a fantasticantastic club, fantasticic fans, a fantastic football ball team, fantasticic players, fan- tastic staff, I am enjoying it. It is fun from 6am till 6pm every day.” The lows have outweighed the highs so far for Caixinha and the same questionsquest that were raised upo upon his appointment are stills prevalent now for sup supporters.
THE build build-up to an Old Firm encounter can be emotionallyem draining but C Caixinha is happy tot immerse him himself in his wo work as he st strives for su success.
“If you live it like all-in then, yes,” he said when asked if the time has passed quickly. “That’s another thing I have learned in the last six months.
“My wife sits here and she is not working. And because I am here and absorbed in this she will say that I am never with her.
“I try to find something for her to do in order that that the time will pass as well as mine. That’s the reality.
“I want her to have something to do in her spare time when the kids are at school and I am working. She needs to have her mind occupied.
“When you have your mind occupied and focussed that’s the secret. When you select what to focus on and occupy your mind.”
Whether Caixinha is a success or a failure at Rangers, his commitment to the job and his attitude can’t be questioned.
The club has made an impression on the Portuguese. He has still to make his mark, though.
“My life in football is 24 hours, less the time I spend with my family,” he said.
“The time I spend with my family I want to be quality time, so if I can give them two hours a day that is perfect.
“After the Hamilton game we have the international break and we have three days off so I will be delighted to enjoy it with them. It just needs to be all in on the right moment. 24 hours, minus the family.”
THE TIME that Caixinha hasn’t spent at home in the last couple of days will have been dominated by the upcoming 90 minutes at Ibrox.
The chances of Rangers emerging as champions this term will remain slim, even if revenge