GIO FIRM ABOUT CELTIC FOCUS
Ibrox boss insists Rangers are now concentrating totally on the derby
GIOVANNI van Bronckhorst finds himself in an unusual position as Rangers manager. For once, an Old Firm game isn’t the biggest item on his itinerary.
The Dutchman wouldn’t say that, of course. At least not publicly. But from a Rangers’ perspective, the presence of next Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg against RB Leipzig casts an unfamiliar shadow over the final derby of the season.
Van Bronckhorst will have to strike a delicate balance. Not least in the use of his squad.
He admitted yesterday that he wasn’t yet sure what scale of ‘rotation’ would be necessary in the wake of the 1-0 first-leg loss in Germany. Obviously, though, tomorrow’s trip to Parkhead cannot be dismissed as any kind of irrelevance. It’s far from that.
Van Bronckhorst and his players know defeat would effectively see Celtic crowned as champions with three games to spare, such is their goal-difference advantage.
Rangers fans may well have sights trained on Europe but that won’t stall criticism if their team ends up being wallflowers at a green-and-white title party. The bigger picture tends to fade a little amid the heat of local passions.
After two damaging Old Firm defeats, Van Bronckhorst turned the tables on Ange Postecoglou with success in the Scottish Cup semi-final a fortnight ago.
Maintaining that momentum carries clear importance, both for his own standing and for the general confidence around Rangers as they seek a seismic conclusion to their season.
But is it worth any gambles with selection? Or is it time to spare one or two key performers from the possibility of fatigue or injury?
Victory would cut Celtic’s lead to three points and maintain hope but — again, because of that gulf in goal difference — Postecoglou’s side would need to drop another four points in their final three games to risk losing top spot. That’s as many as they have leaked in the last four-and-a-bit months.
Where the Premiership is concerned, Rangers have pretty much been in need of a Lazarus act ever since the 2-1 home derby loss on April 3.
They are still very much alive in the Europa League, though, and next week’s clash at Ibrox will determine whether they reach a first continental final in 14 years.
Minds could be forgiven for wandering towards that assignment. Van Bronckhorst, however, is confident his players will keep their focus firmly on Celtic until tomorrow’s final whistle.
‘I think it’s easy,’ he said. ‘I had my team talk after the game (in Germany). We closed the Leipzig tie. We are going to prepare again for them next week. Our focus is now on Celtic.
‘I think what I have seen in the months that I have been here is the focus and the preparation towards games from this group has been amazing.
‘To be involved in Europe so far
in the season and to every week prepare for only two, three days for a game, I think the players have done really well.
‘It is a hectic schedule, it is hard work for everyone, not only the players but also the staff and everyone at the club.
‘But everyone is doing their 100 per cent and making their best effort to prepare for the game.
‘The players have done that so amazingly for the last months and we will keep doing that until we have played the Scottish Cup final (against Hearts on May 21).’
That Hampden showpiece is on the calendar thanks to an extratime triumph over Celtic. Trailing to a Greg Taylor goal with 77 minutes on the clock, Rangers turned the semi-final around through a Scott Arfield strike and an own goal from Carl Starfelt.
It was an immensely significant win, given how the balance of power had previously shifted, and one Van Bronckhorst (below) hopes will provide a psychological lift this weekend.
‘The belief is there,’ he added. ‘We won an important semi-final to reach the cup final.
‘You see this season we won two, we lost two (Old Firm games)— 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. All we can do is prepare well and show we are 100 per cent on Sunday.’ What’s unthinkable for Rangers is any repeat of their last visit to Parkhead on February 2, the night they lost top spot in the Premiership. An insipid performance left them 3-0 down at half-time. Since that night, Van Bronckhorst’s side have been far more proactive in derbies. It wasn’t quite enough in the league encounter at Ibrox. With John Lundstram foremost, it was in the Cup. ‘I think we have learned,’ said Van Bronckhorst. ‘The two Old Firms after that were different from the one we played in February. ‘On Sunday, we have to see. We will prepare the game well and the team well to go out and make sure we do everything we can to get a good result.
‘I think the players and the team have developed from that moment. We are in much better shape and momentum now.’
In the Red Bull Arena on Thursday night, it was all about containment. That strategy very nearly delivered a goalless draw but it won’t apply tomorrow and next midweek. Only victories will suffice.
‘On Sunday and next week, we have to win our games, so it’s going to be a different approach,’ added Van Bronckhorst.
‘In that way, we have to go out and make sure we do everything for the win.
‘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 in a good performance.’