Barisic ready for Celtic Hampden showdown
RANGERS took another small step forward by overcoming Aberdeen. Now they must take a giant leap by conquering Celtic.
Victory over Jim Goodwin’s side on Sunday -- earned thanks to a Ryan Jack equaliser and Kemar Roofe’s extratime effort -- has set up an Old Firm showdown at Hampden.
It will be the most significant test of the progress that Rangers are making under new boss Michael Beale. Indeed, it will be the biggest occasion of the Englishman’s career as he bids for silverware for the first time as a manager.
The Dons clash was another afternoon where aspects of the performance could be questioned and critiqued but defender Borna Barisic reckons the spirit of the squad shone through once again as Rangers emerged victorious in difficult circumstances.
Barisic said: “We showed character. We have showed that in the last couple of games to come back and when we are down we will come back.
“I think that is a positive and a big thing. It is not easy to come back after a goal like we conceded for the first one. Before it, we were much the better team and had control of the game.
“We said in the dressing room we had to reset because we played well and we came back.
“If you want to win something, you need to have that character and that kind of mentality. We had that before, we showed that again. It is a positive.
“It is a big incentive [ to beat Celtic in the final] It is big for the players, for the club, for the fans. We are looking forward to the final and it will be a big game.
“Every game that you play in a final is a game where the details always decide it. We will have confidence.”
The meeting with Ange Postecoglou’s side next month gives Rangers a chance to lay down a marker of where they are and where they hope to head under the guidance of Beale as he continues to rebuild their campaign.
Barisic said: “The manager wants to win, of course. He put in our minds that we want to win something this season.”