Michael Beale: I’m here to win Rangers the Scottish Premiership title
Michael Beale says he’s at Ibrox to win Rangers the league title ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm League cup final clash with Celtic.
The two Old Firm rivals go head-to-head once again in what is expected to be another engrossing and pulsating affair as they both aim to have their hands on the coveted League Cup trophy.
Both teams enter the contest in tremendous form, with the Gers unbeaten since Beale’s arrival in November and the former Liverpool academy coach admitted the Scottish Premiership is ultimately the priority.
Speaking to Sky Sports [21 February] ahead of Sunday’s final, he said: “We want to win the league cup, we want to win all the cups that are in front of us and we want to win the league cup but that’s not ultimately why I’m here.
“Why I’m here is obviously to win the league and we’re behind in that. Our form has been very good, and their forms been very good as well so we’ve not been able to cut the points gap, there’s still lots of football to be played.
“Of course, we want to win the League Cup but there’s bigger things in my mind after that as well, so it’s part of ticking a box of where I ultimately want to take us.”
Springboard
Beale’s title admission is perfectly understandable as he tries to lay down the ultimate priority for his tenure as Gers boss, but Sunday’s league cup showdown could well be just as crucial as any league triumph he may win in the future.
Considering the gaping gap between the two rivals in the Scottish Premiership table, there really is no chance of Rangers catching Celtic, all they can do is keep up their winning streak and hope their fierce rivals drop points along the way which seems highly unlikely.
However, Sunday’s final could well provide a springboard for Beale’s men to build from. Ange Postecoglu used the Scottish League Cup last term as a catalyst for his Celtic domination, so why can’t Beale do the same for the Light Blues?
In what will arguably be Beale’s most important and most pivotal one-off game of his managerial career, it’ll be dangerous not to place huge emphasis on what a victory could provide his men should they lift the trophy come Sunday evening.
In other Rangers news, one key man set to return to training this week and could play v Celtic.