The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Caixinha adamant gap will narrow
Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has been forced to admit his side are living in Celtic’s shadow – but he is determined to slash the gap separating the sides.
The new Ibrox manager says he cannot deny the Parkhead men are way out in front after coming up against Brendan Rodgers’ rampant Hoops for the first time on Sunday.
A meek Gers line-up showed their bitter rivals far too much respect and were punished as Celtic strolled to a 2-0 win in the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden.
But his team have one last chance to shoot down the Ladbrokes Premiership champions when they visit Govan tomorrow.
Caixinha expects to see the passion he believes was missing at the National Stadium.
He said: “I’m assessing (the gulf between the clubs) and I’m working on a daily basis. It exists and I cannot deny it.
“But we want to reduce it and we are going to do it.
“It is not a question of time, though.
“It is a question of work, belief and commitment.”
Caixinha is refusing to write off his side’s chances, and claims he would rather head home to Portugal than persist with a team he believed had no chance of success.
“If there was not confidence in the squad I would not be here facing you. I would not come before the match, for sure.
“If I don’t believe we could do these things I would not show up. I would just resign and go home.”
Meanwhile, Caixinha – who blanked questions on a reported new deal for striker Kenny Miller and speculation he is about to mount a move for Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean – insists there is no discord among his squad over plans for pre-season.
Reports yesterday suggested the 46-year-old is set to extend his players’ summer holiday in order to head off a brewing row after originally granting them just a nine-day break.
The Daily Record claimed those plans had caused friction with the likes of skipper Lee Wallace and striker Joe Garner as they were having to shift wedding arrangements.
But Caixinha says his men – who will round off their season away to St Johnstone on May 21 – are on board with his training schedule as they plot an early return to action when the Europa League qualifiers kick off on June 29.