Barry Ferguson reveals Rangers key v Celtic after dressing room questions
Barry Ferguson has revealed what he believes the “key” is to Rangers beating Celtic in the Scottish FA Cup final on 25 May.
Rangers and Celtic face off in the final Old Firm derby of the season at Hampden Park with aspirations of making 2023/24 a double-winning campaign.
And Ferguson believes the Gers need to start better than they have done in previous derby clashes with the Bhoys if they are to bring the trophy back to Ibrox.
He wrote in his column for the Daily Record (25 May): “The question – and it’s one I’ve been asked all week by my fellow supporters – is: How exactly are [Rangers] going to [win]?
“Well, first and foremost they have to start the game properly because that’s simply not been the case in the last two derbies. I’ve played in enough of these games to know how it works. The first 20 minutes are hell for leather. There’s hardly time to breathe let alone think your way through it.
“The key to surviving is to keep things simple inside your own head. Win your first tackle. Win your first header. Find a teammate with your first pass. Whatever it is, just make sure you’re on point. Get up against your direct opponent and don’t give him an inch. That’s what gets you up and running in this fixture when everything is happening in a blur at 100 miles per hour.
“If these players want to enjoy their summer and give the fans something to celebrate then that’s the way they have to go about it. If they start well then they’ve got a real good chance of winning it. Let’s be honest, people are questioning their mentality and that would be eating me alive if I was in that dressing room. I’d be so determined to try to put that right.”
Can Rangers beat Celtic in the Scottish FA Cup final?
As Ferguson states, Rangers must see out the hectic early period of the Old Firm derby much better than they have this season.
The Gers have gone in at half-time trailing in each of their last four clashes with Celtic and have only been able to avoid defeat on one of those occasions.
The score was 2-1 and Rangers were down to 10 men at the break in the last Old Firm derby on 11 May at Parkhead, while Philippe Clement’s men conceded in the first minute and were 2-0 down by half-time in the eventual 3-3 draw at Ibrox on 7 April.
The Light Blues must be disciplined in the game’s opening period to avoid giving themselves a mountain to climb – and that discipline must extend to avoiding red cards, too. Rangers have had a man sent off in two of their last three derbies and cannot afford a repeat at Hampden.
If Clement’s men can do all that, they will give themselves an excellent chance of ending their season on a high note.
In other news, Keith Jackson has mooted a “serious issue” inside the Gers dressing room.
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