TALKING RANGERS
PEDRO CAIXINHA held his hands up and accepted the blame for Rangers’ Hampden no-show as they missed out on a Betfred Cup final spot.
Two goals from striker Louis Moult condemned the Gers to a costly defeat and sent Stephen Robinson’s side through to a meeting with Celtic next month.
It is the latest high-profile defeat that Caixinha has suffered during his Ibrox tenure and the Portuguese was frustrated with the outcome as chairman Dave King watched on at the National Stadium.
Caixinha said: “No [I’m not under pressure], I’m just really disappointed. I’m disappointed not to deliver what this massive football club is chasing.
“I’m disappointed to lose another chance to get into a final.
“I’m not under pressure or under stress or whatever. It’s something which is not part of my vocabulary. But of course at this moment, I’m certainly disappointed.
“Now we need to put the players in the right direction and focus on Wednesday. Maybe we don’t need to analyse so much.
“The best answer, you need to give it as soon as possible. So it’s good that we have two days to recover before our next match.
“We are pleased he (King) is here but we are not pleased because we wanted to deliver a win for him and for this fan base.
“They are fantastic all the time, supporting us. It was not possible. Once again, I’m responsible for that.”
Rangers went into the Hampden clash on the back of successive Premiership successes over Hamilton and St Johnstone but couldn’t make it three-in-a-row as the Steelmen emerged as deserved winners.
The Light Blues had first half opportunities through Josh Windass and Declan John but their profligacy in the final third proved costly once again.
Caixinha said: “We conceded the first goal after 52 minutes but before that we had two or three clear chances. I said to myself that arriving at those conditions of the game without scoring, maybe some bad things might come.
“They were twice on our goal in the second half and they scored twice. That’s football, that’s what happens. But it is not hiding what was our poor performance and the Blue in the face...Pedro Caixinha ran the full gamut of emotions at Hampden yesterday as he ended the match watching from the stands having been sent off by referee Steven McLean shade of team we were.No, no, no [there is no problem with the mental strength of the players]. It’s up to me.
“I’m the one who needs to lead them i n the right direction.
“That’s one of the aspects of the game. I told the boys at half-time, there was only one team on the pitch that looks like they are there to win the match.
“We are not doing what we need to do and that’s the only thing I’m asking.
“I assume all responsibility and maybe I didn’t prepare them so good direction.”
Caixinha had to watch the closing stages unfold from the Hampden stand after being sent off by referee Steven McLean for protesting at a Ryan Bowman challenge on Fabio Cardoso.
Tin that HE Portuguese stopper was left with a broken nose from an elbow to the face but Caixinha knows he must look at the failings of his side after another big game defeat.
He said: “I got a little bit an- gry when I saw Fabio’s nose. We know the team was going to play aggressively but you also have to look at the rules.
“The rules don’t allow handballs they don’t allow elbows. That was all I said. What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch.
“But our performance was very poor, our performance was not anywhere near it needed to be.
“When that happens I need to assume full responsibility.
“I am not referring to the referee, I am standing up fully and taking responsibility.
“We were very poor and we allowed the opponent to play the game they wanted to play.
“We didn’t get close enough to the opponent and we deserved to lose the match.
“Maybe I had created a lot of expectation and a lot of anxiety I am a little bit like that.
“We have players who weren’t at the levels, I can’t say why they weren’t at that levels. Collectively it was a very poor perf orma nc e.” direct