Tom English predicts Rangers rage v Celtic with summer surgery already ahead
BBC Scotland’s Tom English has predicted that Rangers will be full of rage and motivation to pose a threat against Celtic in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final, in his BBC column ahead of the showpiece clash.
He also stated that Michael Beale’s side possesses the propensity to self-destruct which could cause as much danger as anything Ange Postecoglou’s team may throw at them.
English warned that if Rangers fail to secure a place in the final on 03 June, there will be nothing to fall back on, ahead of summer surgery on the Ibrox squad.
He outlined the stark difference in results and performances from key players over the last two seasons, which has left the Gers playing catch-up.
“And, if they don’t win on Sunday, it’ll play out against a backdrop of fury among the support,” said English.
“There’s pressure on Celtic, of course, there is. Most of it is self-imposed, the hunger of a team striving to become treble winners. A defeat would go down badly among the fans, but they’ll have a league title to celebrate soon and they’d get over a cup loss, in time.
“Rangers have nothing else to comfort them if it goes wrong. No soft landing. No upbeat finale to the season.
“Just a weary post-mortem and summer surgery with tens of thousands of fans in the operating theatre with them, studying their every move.
“This is their last crack for the season. That rage for victory will make them dangerous, but sometimes in this fixture, the danger that Rangers pose is to themselves as much as to Celtic.”
The last dance
If there is no victory on Sunday, the fall-out for Beale and his players will be intense. They know the pressure is on, but can they deliver?
This is the fifth Old Firm clash of the season, with Rangers yet to taste success after three defeats and one draw. The manager knows that he is playing for next season as much as the here and now, even if many of the players won’t be.
He desperately wants new additions to his squad to truly put his own stamp on things but the situation for the new campaign will be set, partly, by the events of the next few games.
This semi-final is the big one, more of an event than the actual final will be, against Inverness, but Rangers have to prove that they can go the distance and prevail against the Parkhead side. They haven’t done that yet, this term.
Then there is the last meeting of the season in a few weeks at Ibrox. The result may be meaningless in the greater picture but another Celtic win would be damning. Beale needs his players to perform in this last dance.
In other Rangers news, ‘Adrenaline’ – Pundit tips this Gers player to score v Celtic in surprise first start since January.