Blame me and not the players for Ibrox humiliation, says Caixinha
PEDRO CAIXINHA shouldered the full weight of responsibility for Rangers suffering their worst humiliation on home territory in the history of the Old Firm fixture.
At Hampden last Sunday, he felt ‘ashamed’ at the lack of passion and aggression shown by players who failed to carry out his instructions in the 2-0 Scottish Cup semi-final loss.
Those boxes, however, were apparently ticked to his satisfaction yesterday despite Celtic handing out a full-scale drubbing at Ibrox to extend the gap between the clubs to 36 points in the Premiership table.
So the new Rangers manager, who handed Josh Windass and Joe Dodoo their first starts of his reign, stated that all criticism for the 5-1 thumping should be addressed towards him.
He said: ‘I’m to blame. I just have one thought, it is my total responsibility. The players tried to do their very best, they had a fantastic attitude and they raised their level.
‘Things didn’t go in the direction we were supposed to have planned, so I am the man responsible. That’s what I take from this match.
‘I saw more from my players this week, the way we started the game was in that direction.’
When asked if it would be unfair to judge him as a coach until he has the opportunity to construct his own style of Rangers team, Caixinha replied: ‘You need to judge me all the time.
‘From day one since I came here. I’m not one guy who puts the responsibility on others, I take it all the time. For things that are not going in the right direction I am responsible. I always will be.’
The Portuguese watched his 18-year-old left-back selection Myles Beerman, up against Patrick Roberts for the second week running, concede the seventh-minute penalty that sent Celtic on their rampant way.
When asked if he was unhappy with the teenager’s ill-advised challenge, Caixinha said: ‘No, it’s one decision from one young boy. I hope he learns from it. I’m here to give them the confidence and the trust.
‘Sometimes you make mistakes that cost you but that is part of the learning process for a young player. The players had the passion, totally. Maybe even the penalty comes from that situation — to look like you have passion but not know exactly where to place it in that exact moment.’
The huge responsibility now falling on the manager is to prepare Rangers for a better challenge and move closer to Celtic’s standards by next season.
However, captain Kenny Miller stressed that Rangers
have catching up to do to reach second place before they can entertain ideas of tackling the champions over the course of a season.
He said: ‘We seem to get carried away, as a football club, by where we’ve been in the past. Because we are used to being up there, winning trophies and challenging Celtic.
‘But you just need to look at the table. Aberdeen are nine points clear of us. So that suggests just how much work has to be done and how much better we’ll need to be next season.
‘There’s no doubt that we need to strengthen and need to be better. It’s not about signing a whole new team. There’s no proof to say that will be an answer.
‘But Celtic are the prime example of a few players of a higher quality making an incredible difference to the team. And a few of the ones already there being rejuvenated.’