The Herald on Sunday

Trial and errors

RANGERS The hype he could do without, but after admitting to making mistakes Mark Warburton is keen to make amends against Celtic, hears Neil Cameron

- Photograph: Getty

MARK Warburton has always done things his way but as old Blue Eyes put it, he also has a few regrets. We all have PhDs in hindsight but it’s the mistakes made that on reflection were so obviously avoidable which keep you company at four in the morning while indulging in a spot of ceiling-staring.

The Rangers manager made more than a few errors the last time his side met Celtic, a few months after the Englishman got everything just about spot-on in the Scottish Cup semi-final victory. His players hardly helped in the 5-1 mauling at Parkhead but the buck stops with the boss.

In seven days’ time, Warburton gets a chance to put things right. Next Sunday, in another Hampden semifinal, the Rangers supporters want to see a change in attitude, team selection and belief. The plan is to give them all three, and also a better performanc­e and result.

“I think playing more on the front foot,” replied Warburton to the question of what he would change from the last derby. “We went into that game lacking a bit of self-belief. We went into the semi-final with no lack of belief and absolute confidence in what we were going to do. It has to be that way. New players coming in and trying to bed them in weakens that self-belief because you haven’t built it yet. You have to build self-belief.

“There are a number of factors but I think what we have to do is go into any game with confidence in our shape, our fitness, our style and enjoy playing our football.

“I’ve put my hand up before and said the midfield was Joey Barton, Niko Kranjcar, and Josh Windass – three new players. Philippe Senderos played his first game other than 90 minutes in Linfield, Joe Garner started as well. So we had half of a new team and maybe in hindsight, which is a marvellous thing, there were too many changes. But Jason Holt wasn’t fit and other players weren’t fit and ready. We now know what we have to do and I’m delighted about how we’re training and, hopefully, playing.”

Some people get this fixture, others do not. The local players, of course, don’t need a lesson about the Old Firm but even those who move from terracing to pitch – sometimes especially them – find it all too much.

“That’s part of the recruitmen­t side of it. You don’t know, do you?” Warburton said. “You can be fine playing in front of 10,000 or 15,000 people, and then you’re suddenly in front of 50,000 or 60,000 with a really intimidati­ng, cauldron-type atmosphere. How will they react? How will they react if the first pass goes into touch? You hope your recruitmen­t is going to be right but you never really know until you throw them in.

“Any footballer should come into their own in those sorts of games. Everyone knows about Old Firm games. If you can’t be excited or get ready for this type of challenge then you shouldn’t be playing football.

“I understand the local hunger the [Andy] Hallidays and [Kenny] Millers have but I think any player must be desperate to play in such a game and be privileged to play in such a game.”

Warburton has seen both sides of this match. The winning was great, the defeat unbearable, but the hype, the run-up to the actual match, is the thing he could do without.

“You almost welcome the first whistle,” he admitted. “The build-up is so intense, you think ‘ thank God for that’. Forget winning and losing, it’s a privilege to be involved.

“I look around Hampden, I looked about Parkhead – I haven’t enjoyed one at Ibrox yet – and this is one of the biggest games in world football. I think you have to realise that, when all the dust has settled, it is an honour and a privilege to be involved in these types of fixtures.”

Rangers have not been at their best this season. Even the better performanc­es have not gained them enough points. Warburton hasn’t looked comfortabl­e on the touchline; however, he is adamant things are coming together.

“I think you can look at the squads you pick, and we have a slightly bigger squad this time, by two players,” he said. “One minute you can’t put all the substitute­s out, then when everyone’s fit you can have the problem of having three or four boys not making the final 18. It’s all about making sure the balance and unity is right, and the training is right. If you can get the environmen­t right, the players will respond to it.”

They will have to. If Rangers lose heavily next weekend, and there will be many who fear another bad day, Warburton is going to be under more pressure than ever. Win and everything changes.

 ??  ?? Mark Warburton wants his team to play on the front foot against Celtic, with plenty of self-belief
Mark Warburton wants his team to play on the front foot against Celtic, with plenty of self-belief

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