Arthur Numan says that Rangers must ‘forget’ ahead of Scottish Cup Final v Celtic
Former Rangers defender Arthur Numan has said that Philippe Clement’s side must “change” their mentality against Celtic to have any chance of lifting the Scottish Cup in May 25.
The Gers suffered a significant fall-off in form towards the back end of the season to eventually finish eight points behind their Old Firm rivals, but have a shot at redemption at Hampden Park.
Numan played in the last Scottish Cup Final to feature Glasgow’s big two, and also the last one which Celtic lost, starting at left-back for Rangers in a 3-2 victory.
In quotes reported by Rangers Review, Numan said: “The cup is very important because we can still win the double – the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. They need to focus on this game and forget what has happened the last couple of weeks.
“This is a great moment to change it against Celtic because if you beat them you can also win a trophy, and people will always remember that because then you win the double.”
Can Rangers earn Old Firm victory in Scottish Cup final?
Rangers’ record against Celtic so far in 2023-24 makes for grim reading, with three defeats and a last-gasp 3-3 draw at Ibrox, leaving a zero per cent rate in the wins column.
Most recently, the Gers were on the wrong end of a wild first half at Parkhead, conceding twice in as many minutes before a wild John Lundstram challenge was upgraded to a red card by VAR.
Philippe Clement’s side had pulled a goal back through Cyriel Dessers just moments after Celtic had gone 2-0 up, but Lundstram’s sending-off left them too high a mountain to climb in the second half.
With Hampden on the horizon, the Gers must ensure they don’t give the back-to-back Premiership champions an easy leg-up via cheaply conceded goals or reckless red cards.
It remains to be seen how Clement will set his Rangers side up ahead of the first Scottish Cup final between the Old firm rivals in 22 years, but having already lifted the Scottish League Cup this season, could this season’s final match be a repeat of Numan and co’s 2002 heroics?
In other Rangers news, the club have been told to cash in on one star this summer.
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