Rangers fans will absolutely love what Cerny said about Celtic defeat

Vaclav Cerny will please Rangers fans with his robust mentality in between crucial Old Firm clashes with Celtic.

Cerny has come across focused and professional in his recent comments regarding how spirits in Philippe Clement's squad have fared since the Scottish League Cup final defeat on 15 December.

Even the feeling of injustice via the officials, the agonising way the Hampden final was lost on penalties and the fact it handed the one piece of silverware Rangers held across Glasgow, has not appeared to faze the team if Cerny's rally is to be believed - especially with the win over Dundee [21 December] continuing the impressive league run.

“It wasn’t difficult for us to move on because in the end we are professionals. We know that every game is very important, which is true," the winger was quoted by the Daily Record [25 December].

“The disappointment was there, a very big one, but in football you need to be able to move on quickly. We have done that, there are other games - two important games before that one. Let's focus on those games before the other one [2 January]. There are two big games before that [the Old Firm] and a very tight schedule.

“Everybody in the dressing-room feels the same way, we need to be ready for the two big games before that one on the second of January.”

Rangers averting their gaze from Old Firm to round off 2024

For a new calendar year to begin with a Glasgow derby showdown at Ibrox offers Rangers that clean-slate feeling heading into both the winter transfer market and a fresh year of hope.

However, Cerny has emphasised that professionalism and is correct in doing so to aid a Gers side who have in recent weeks clawed their way back into the top two of the Scottish Premiership.

Even the League Cup final aside, Clement's men are also faring well in their exciting Europa League campaign ahead of a tantalising visit to Manchester United, and have the bulk of the Scottish Cup journey ahead.

In the here-and-now, the visit to St Mirren [26 December] offers an opportunity for the Light Blues to be ruthless. The Dundee victory was not always pretty but saw the side get the job done - something which had lacked on far too many previous occasions.

Three days later, Motherwell play hosts to see out 2024. Each of the upcoming opponents in the forthcoming 72 hours have earned their right to sit in the top six, and Gers know taking steps forward only to end up leaps back is not a good look. They have to go to both of these top-six opponents and win.

Then, and only then, can the salivating prospect of the Ibrox return of Celtic be the objective of focus.

In other Rangers news, Cyriel Dessers is edging ever-closer to a January exit.

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