Don’t judge us on this.. Judge us on these..
Arfield: King’s right, we ARE closer to Celts – look at last two derbies
SCOTT ARFIELD insists you only need to look at the last two Old Firm games to see that Rangers have closed the gap on Celtic.
The Hoops could clinch the title this weekend but regardless of what happens the Ibrox star is in no doubt Steven Gerrard’s team have made genuine progress this season.
Chairman Dave King had claimed earlier this week that the Light Blues were within “tangible reach” of becoming the dominant force in Scottish football again and Arfield is in total agreement.
Arfield said: “We are so close, although maybe not in terms of points. Next season we will be there.
“The enthusiasm is there and it needs to be because we are representing millions of people around the planet who support this football club. “That is why it is so important in these next five games that we really go at it and give it a really good go to set us up for next year. “We are in a good position just now, it is up to us to make it a great one.” Celtic are 11 points ahead in the table and will seal the league if Rangers lose to Hearts and the Hoops win at Hibs on Sunday. Arfield knows on paper it looks a big gap but he thinks a better gauge has been the derbies. Rangers won and dominated in the 1-0 Ibrox win in December and then recently they narrowly lost 2-1 at Parkhead, despite playing a large chunk of the game with 10 men after Alfredo Morelos’ red card.
The Canada midfielder said: “People are going to talk about how many points Celtic have won the league by this year but I think it has been evident in the last two Old Firm games, particularly the one at Parkhead, that the mentality is there.
“It was a mistake from us on a personal point of view and if that didn’t happen then we dominated the game for large spells.
“We dominated the game at Ibrox for the full 90 minutes and that shows we are on course for something here.”
Arfield swapped Burnley for Ibrox in the summer and is
People can judge me after my contract but I’m sure I’ll have some trophies by then SCOTT ARFIELD
disappointed that his first season will finish empty-handed.
He believes that is down to the fact that it has taken time for Gerrard’s new-look squad to gel but is in no doubt he will get his hands on his fair share of trophies over the remaining three years of his contract.
The 30-year-old, who scored a hat-trick last time out against Motherwell, said: “The fact of the matter is we come away with no trophies from this season, which is disappointing for this club.
“When you come through these doors you need to win trophies and that is how you are judged.
“We had a large turnover in here, even in January with a couple of players coming in. It takes time for it all to cement. If we had got a trophy this year it probably would have been a bonus with the number of players who have come in and out.
“I have a four-year contract, three left after this, and people can judge me after that but I am sure I’ll have trophies by then.”
Meanwhile, Rangers reserve coach Graeme Murty has praised the attitude of first-team fringe men Matt Polster and Glenn Middleton for the part they played in the 2-0 defeat of Celtic’s Reserves on Monday that has put the Ibrox outfit in pole position to clinch the second string title with two games to go.
Middleton, who has featured regularly for Gerrard’s side from the bench, grabbed the goals and could have had a hat-trick.
Murty said: “The best goal could have been when he was slipped through after a really good, intricate passage of play and Stevie Kelly is five yards out with a tap-in and Glenn decides to shoot with his right foot!
“He’s just admitted he didn’t actually see Stevie which is typical of a forward player – but some of our stuff getting into the final third was good. I challenged the boys before the game to be a bit more clinical and more ruthless.
“The defenders getting a clean sheet was as big as the goals, especially against a team which has some attacking talent like they have, and to stand up to that is pleasing for the defensive unit.
“I want to make special mention too of Matt – as a firstteam player coming down, he really set a good example for the younger players.”