Mark Warburton outlines how Michael Beale can make ‘statement’ for Rangers, says he has ‘real chance’ against Brendan Rodgers
Rangers and Michael Beale can make a “real statement” in the battle for the Scottish Premiership title by beating Celtic and Brendan Rodgers in the first Old Firm derby of the season, says Mark Warburton.
Warburton was in charge of the Gers in 2016 and went up against Rodgers during the former Liverpool manager’s first spell in charge of Celtic, although he was unsuccessful.
But the ex-West Ham assistant is of the belief that Beale has a much better chance than he did of competing with the club’s bitter rivals due to the heavy recruitment drive they have been on this summer, which has seen eight players arrive already and Jose Cifuentes on the brink of joining.
Warburton believes Beale and his side can lay down a marker when they host Celtic for the first derby of the campaign on 3 September.
“I’m glad Michael Beale’s being backed, it gives him a better chance of success against Celtic,” Warburton told SunSport (3 August).
“The first Old Firm game of the season will be very important. I know you still only get three points, not six, from a win, but a win for Rangers would be a real statement and psychologically important. It would be a marker laid down.
“Michael’s got a real chance against Brendan, who knows Celtic inside out and has a high-quality squad, he will relish the challenge. Rangers are in a far stronger financial position and I’m looking forward to what should be a fantastic title race.”
Strong support
Despite the way things finished between Warburton and the club it is clear that he still has plenty of love for Rangers and will be watching on and supporting them this season.
It was a bitter end to the 60-year-old’s time at Ibrox, who was successful with the club as he took them out of the Championship upon his first attempt. When he left, the club hierarchy insisted he had quit while he himself suggested he had been sacked.
And while he did not receive the same sort of funding to compete with Celtic and Rodgers as Beale is receiving now, that won’t matter to him or the Rangers faithful. They will all just be glad they are getting the funding now.
Of course, once the season gets underway it could be a very different story and things might not go as planned, but on paper, it seems as if a competitive title race is shaping up nicely.
In other Rangers news, a senior player could be ready to quit the club in the next 48 hours.