The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Caixinha could change training times to foil Saints’ preparations
Pedro Caixinha has added further spice to tomorrow’s clash between St Johnstone and Rangers by claiming he would change his training times to stop Saints getting inside information on his team.
When asked what he expected from the Perth side, the Ibrox manager said: “First of all I expect them not to train after we train tomorrow.
“Why am I telling you that? Because I know last season, in the last match, we train at 10 and they train at 12, knowing already our first XI.”
Saints striker Steven MacLean had earlier accused Caixinha of trying to wind up Saints by comparing their formation and style with Championship club Morton, whom Rangers played in a training-ground game last weekend.
Caixinha responded: “If I cannot say one team plays with the same formation and the same style of game, I cannot say anything. I don’t care about it.”
Caixinha meanwhile described Kenny Miller as “one of ours” after clearing the air with the veteran striker.
Caixinha revealed Miller had responded well to his omission from the squad which won 4-1 against Hamilton before the international break.
The Portuguese coach had refused to discuss whether Miller’s absence was related to reports of a heated team meeting after Celtic’s 2-0 win at Ibrox.
Miller will have to wait to see if he is included in the squad for the encounter against St Johnstone, although he has a minor fitness concern too.
Caixinha said at his pre-match media conference: “Kenny is one of our players from the squad like all the others. All of them have the same respect and behaviour from our side.
“But I’m the manager. I decide the players who will start the game, I decide the players that are going to be in the squad, and I also decide the players who will be out of the squad. Kenny is definitely one of ours.”