SOUNESS: PEDRO RANT WAS RISKY

GRAEME SOUNESS says he understands why Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has resorted to shaming his players, but admits it’s a ‘dangerous road to go down’.

After initially accepting full responsibility for the 2-0 Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell on Sunday, the Portuguese manager then accused his players of embarrassing him, the club and its fans with their performance at Hampden.

Souness, who won three league titles and four League Cups during his time as player-manager at Ibrox, thinks that it is a risky strategy ahead of tonight’s visit of Kilmarnock in the Premiership, although he can identify with Caixinha’s motivation in seeking a response.

‘I think it’s a dangerous road to go down but I fully understand it,’ he said. ‘You get to a point where you’re nice, nice, nice, you’re not getting the response you want so you go down a different route, but it can be a dangerous route.’

Caixinha, who has failed to win three games in a row since taking over seven months ago, needs to get the three league points on offer tonight, but Souness believes it will take time for Rangers to get back to where they used to be.

‘I know there will be great disappointment at this time, but there’s no quick fix there,’ he said.

‘That will take a long time to get right unfortunately, unless there’s someone who comes along with a big cheque.

‘I’m like every Rangers supporter; it’s not a great time, but you’ve got to believe it will get better, sooner rather than later.

‘They’ll be hurting but they’ve got to believe and they do believe because they show up — 50,000 turn out for every home game.

‘One way or another, I hope it turns a corner and sooner rather than later.’

l Graeme Souness was speaking at a book signing at WH Smith in Glasgow to promote his autobiography Football: My Life, My Passion.