Caixinha: No excuse for failure

PEDRO CAIXINHA last night warned his Rangers players there will be no admissible excuses for failing to overcome Progres Niederkorn tonight. The Portuguese’s first full season in charge at Ibrox got off to an unconvincing start in last Thursday’s first leg when the minnows from Luxembourg escaped with just a one-goal defeat to keep the tie alive. Having made eight signings already this summer, Caixinha has warned that it will take some time for his new-look team to gel. Citing the vast difference in scale between his club and Niederkorn, however, the Rangers manager conceded that even a team that’s yet to find its feet should be progressing to the second qualifying round of the Europa League with something to spare. ‘It’s unthinkable, of course

it is,’ said Caixinha when asked about the possibility of defeat. ‘We are not thinking that way. There cannot be (excuses) ‘If you play a team that’s played ten or 15 games already, then the physicality of the game is more than you have at this moment. You cannot compare it. ‘But we know this team is in the same condition in terms of preparation. We know the way we need to play. ‘We are not just thinking about this one, but our main goal. What we are really looking for is to get to the group stages and, after that, we’ll see. ‘We know we’ll need to play eight matches to get there week by week, but that’s our goal, that’s what we want. ‘This game will be the first step to get to the second qualifier and then the third qualifier and then the play-offs to get there.’ Aside from Bruno Alves, who is resting after Portugal’s Confederations Cup campaign, Caixinha has a full quota of players to choose from. Mexican pair Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera were added to the group that flew out from Glasgow yesterday morning and one of them is in contention to make their debut for Rangers — most likely from the bench. ‘We took the decision to take the Mexicans even though we know they are not on the same level as the others,’ added Caixinha. Graham Dorrans is set to become Caixinha’s ninth summer signing in the coming days with the Norwich City midfielder now only awaiting permission to open talks with his boyhood heroes after a fee was finally agreed between the clubs. ‘I cannot talk about that because we don’t know if this is done or not,’ said Caixinha. Hard on the heels of Joe Garner and Andy Halliday’s exits, Barrie McKay is poised to become the third big name to depart, with Nottingham Forest believed to be in pole position to sign him. Cardiff City and two other clubs are also in the running.