Brian Laudrup: Rangers can sow seeds of doubt in Celtic with Viaplay Cup final victory
Brian Laudrup has pinpointed the Viaplay Cup final as the last chance for Rangers to “inject a little doubt” in Celtic for the reason of this season.
The two fierce rivals are set to face off at Hampden Park in the Viaplay Cup final (Sunday 26 February) as Beale looks to get his hands on his first piece of silverware since moving north of the border.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, as shared via the Daily Record (Tuesday 7 February), former Ibrox man Laudrup sees the upcoming clash between the two sides as the final chance for Beale to sow physiological seeds of doubt in Celtic.
“After being a little bit unlucky to only draw the last Old Firm game at Ibrox, that opportunity comes on February 26. Yes, Rangers have games against Partick Thistle and Livingston before then. And they can’t fail in either. But the League Cup final casts a huge shadow over the remainder of this month.
“I genuinely don’t think you can overstate its importance from an Ibrox perspective. Everything will be focused on getting it right at Hampden.
“It’s perhaps the last chance to inject a little doubt into Celtic minds this season. Maybe that wouldn’t make much difference to the current title race – because the consistency of Postecoglou’s side has been outstanding – but just as significant is what it could mean for the next campaign.
“Nothing builds conviction and confidence like winning a trophy. Especially against a rival you are trying to hunt down.”
Massive
The importance of the upcoming cup clash cannot be understated and will prove a brilliant benchmark for Beale’s side after a productive January transfer window.
Winter recruit Todd Cantwell has started brightly in a Gers top since making the switch from Norwich City and looked a brilliant foil to the Rangers midfield in the little game time he has been awarded thus far.
Nicolas Raskin, meanwhile, will be bedded in by the time the cup final arrives, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him central to proceedings later this month.
With Beale’s two January signings likely to be up and running by then, as well as the rest of his in-form squad bursting with confidence, it seems a brilliant opportunity to clinch some silverware.
Obviously, they won’t have it all their own way, as Ange Postecolgou’s relentless Celtic side have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack all season long.
In other Rangers news, one player who Michael Beale wants to keep in his team may not agree to stick around.