Caixinha’s Croat quarterback
Niko Kranjcar looked set for an Ibrox exit, but the manager insists the midfielder is still a key part of his plans, writes Scott Mullen
NIKO Kranjcar has been the invisible man at Rangers for much of this season. Brought in by Mark Warburton last summer as one of two marquee signings – the less said about the other, the better – the Croat’s presence and influence petered out quicker than a Glaswegian summer.
Clouds of uncertainty have gathered on the outside looking in when it comes to the 32-year-old former Tottenham midfielder. Fourteen appearances was all Kranjcar could muster before a training-ground accident in October brought knee surgery and an end to his season.
But that’s only half the story. One of Mark Warburton’s most heralded signings as Rangers recruited for the task of challenging Celtic on their promotion to the Ladbrokes Premiership, it was clear from the outset that Kranjcar wasn’t fit. In fact, he was nowhere near it. As is often the way, it was only when he was just showing glimpses of the ability that made him a favourite of Harry Redknapp that he sustained a cruciate ligament injury.
However, things are beginning to look up for Kranjcar. Now back in training with the Rangers first team, new head coach Pedro Caixinha has revealed the midfielder will play a massive part next season, claiming he will be like his “quarterback” on the field.
“He has nothing to prove as an individual player, but he is really committed and is really looking to perform at his best level for Rangers,” Caixinha said. “He has a lot to give and identified Rangers as one of the biggest clubs he has ever played for.
“I met him at the last stage of his recovery, but I can tell you what a great professional he is. He is the first one to arrive at training and normally the last to go. He’s always available to discuss football and I like players who want to discuss football, about training sessions and everything.
“The guys from American football used to say you have your quarterback and have these sort of conversations. In their type of football the coach and the quarterback discuss things together and plan things together. It’s not quite at that level, but it’s the sort of relationship I like to have with players.”
Kranjcar’s injury was one of a few early dunts which knocked out any sliver of hope that Rangers could sustain a challenge in the Premiership. Joey Barton being, well, Joey Barton, didn’t help either.
Rangers may still not have clicked, but if they had managed to keep the Croat fit and perhaps stopped Barton’s Ibrox career from imploding, finishing the season in second would not have been beyond the realms of possibility. Given that, Caixinha is positive about next season already with Kranjcar in his ranks.
“Yes, straight away. They give us totally different options and characteristics about how to perform in a football match,” he said. “Niko is already training with the team. He is getting his fitness levels, so is Jordan Rossiter – he started later than Niko. We hope that those two players, along with Lee Wallace, start on the 5th [of June] at the same level as all the other players for pre-season.
“I like pedigree players. He’s going to be a new player for us and he can play for sure. He has quality, understanding and leadership. He is the type of player that the team can be controlled by regarding the pace and tempo of the game, the style of play we want to perform. He fits totally into Scottish football.
“I like high pace and rhythm, but I like to control the rhythm. We cannot play all the time at a high tempo. Having players that can perform like that is always important for a squad and Niko is definitely one of those players. We both know what we want from one another.”
Wallace, however, will continue to be Rangers’ captain next season.
“Lee will still be our captain,” Caixinha said. “He’s another guy we are very close to. We want to spread leadership to those sort of players.”