Van Bronckhorst says Rangers have learned lessons from Parkhead collapse
Dutchman confident visitors can do themselves justice in Old Firm despite one eye on Europa semi
THE well-versed cliche states that every game is a big game when you are Rangers manager. Some, of course, carry greater significance than others.
Also on the list of great adages about life at Ibrox is that there is no such thing as a meaningless Old Firm fixture. Some, of course, carry greater significance than others.
In the coming days, Giovanni van Bronckhorst must keep both mottos in his mind as he prepares to face Celtic in a tie that is largely irrelevant and RB Leipzig in one that could be historic.
It is a rare occurrence for a trip to Parkhead to be overshadowed but that is the position that Rangers find themselves in at present given their respective situations in the Premiership and Europa League.
The 1-0 defeat in Germany on Thursday night ensures that the champions are down but not out. A European final is still within sight and within their grasp.
The same cannot be said for the Premiership silverware, though. After just one season at Ibrox, the trophy is now destined to be returned across the city sooner rather than later.
It leaves Van Bronckhorst in an unusual position. He must surely prioritise next midweek, but he cannot afford a weekend that replicates his first derby experience as boss as Rangers were outplayed and outclassed at Parkhead in February.
Now, though, Van Bronckhorst is confident they are a very different proposition as a side that are targeting European glory and Scottish Cup success, attempt to keep the title race ticking over for another week at least.
“You want to play big games in a good ambience and we have had plenty of those games in recent weeks,” Van Bronckhorst said.
“The third time against Celtic in so short time but it is an Old Firm, you have to enjoy it and do everything to make sure you get a good result. It is a great game to be involved in.
“I think we have learned [from the last game at Parkhead]. Of course. The two Old Firms after that were different from the one we played in February.
“On Sunday, we have to see and we will prepare the game well and the team well to go out and make sure we do
The players and the team have developed from that moment. I think we are in much better shape and momentum now
everything we do to get a good result.
“I think the players and the team have developed from that moment. I think we are in much better shape and momentum now.”
The defeat in February was a significant blow to Van Bronckhorst’s standing with supporters and a defining moment in a title race that has quickly got away from Rangers.
Further damage has been inflicted since then. In terms of the manager’s reputation, that has been restored somewhat thanks to the win at Hampden and the exploits on the continent.
The champions could count themselves unlucky to lose at the Red Bull Arena as Angelino scored the only goal of a competitive encounter in the closing minutes.
The performance must give Rangers confidence for what lies ahead. With Celtic in mind, it is the extra-time triumph of a fortnight ago that provides the inspiration.
“The belief is there,” Van Bronckhorst said. “We won an important semi-final to reach the cup final. You see this season we won two, we lost two – so overall it’s even, it’s in the balance.
“Of course, it’s not in the balance the way we are in the league. They have the advantage with the six points so we now have to try and get a good result to keep the belief that we can win the league.
“But that’s difficult because we are trailing them by six points and they have the advantage. We will try to make our position a little bit better on Sunday.
“We have to win this game. It’s a totally different approach to what we had [against Leipzig]. The approach was to get a good result to take back to Ibrox.
“On Sunday and next week, we have to win our games so it’s going to be a different approach. In that way, we have to go out and make sure we do everything for the win.”
If Rangers can emerge victorious tomorrow, it would be another important marker for Van Bronckhorst to pass as manager and a further boost to their morale ahead of a defining night at Ibrox.
It would be easy for minds to shift and focus to drift to what lies ahead when Leipzig come to town but Rangers can ill-afford a damaging derby at such a knife-edge point of the campaign.
The schedule in recent weeks and months has been hectic. It is the price of potential success that Rangers must pay as they now look to cash in this term.
Van Bronckhorst said: “My objective, my job and what I am doing at the moment is to make sure I have my players well prepared for the game.
“Mentally, physically – also make sure I look at my team and at the physicality of my players. I know my players will give everything on Sunday again to get a good result.
“That’s all I’m asking them to do. That’s what they have been doing for the last couple of months in a very hectic schedule.
“So we just keep on doing that. It’s still double fixtures until the end of the season. But we are enjoying the moment we are in and take every game by game.
“So Sunday, we go again. We will recover good, we will prepare well and give 100 per cent on Sunday in a good performance.”