Rangers manager Derek McInnes is calling on his players to energize the home crowd during Sunday’s crucial Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against fierce rivals Celtic. With no visiting supporters permitted in the stadium, McInnes emphasized the importance of harnessing the energy of the approximately 50,000 home fans to create a formidable atmosphere.
Rallying the Ibrox Faithful
McInnes acknowledged that Rangers will not dominate possession for the entire 90 minutes against Celtic, anticipating periods of pressure from both sides. “I think we’ve got to bring the crowd with us,” McInnes stated. “You’re not going to play Celtic and dominate the game for 90 minutes. We’ll have spells, they’ll have spells, it’s just the way it is.” He stressed the need for the team to connect with the supporters, urging them to be “behind the players, support them, have their backs, not be on their backs.”
The manager hopes that the momentum gained from a late victory against St Mirren in their most recent league match can carry over into the cup tie. While the team secured a 1-0 win, McInnes noted that the performance in the second half against St Mirren, and a similar narrow win against Motherwell previously, highlighted a need to capitalize on opportunities more effectively. “I think it’s important that we tap into having that 50,000 behind us… and really make it as tough for Celtic as possible,” he added. “We’ve got our part to play in that and I felt that if we can capitalise on good play and good opportunities, which we didn’t do last night and we didn’t do against Motherwell… if we can get ourselves in front, give the crowd something to get behind, then I think the strength of our club can be shown.”
McInnes believes that by effectively utilizing the home advantage and demonstrating a strong performance, Rangers can become a difficult opponent to overcome. “I think if the 50,000 can be utilised and we can have the strength of performance in the team that will help the team, it will be difficult to stop.”
Ambitions for Domestic Relevance
Addressing the broader context, McInnes recognized the recent history of frustration among the club’s fanbase and expressed a desire to usher in a new era of success. “There’s been a lot of frustration over a period of time at the club and it’s up to us to try and show that we’re going to deliver something a bit different,” he explained. He acknowledged Celtic’s status as a dominant force in recent Scottish football, having secured numerous titles and trophies. “We recognise Celtic are a good team who have been the main title winners and the team that’s picked up more trophies than any other club in recent years.”
The manager’s primary objective is to re-establish Rangers as a consistent contender for domestic silverware. “We just want to make sure that we give ourselves a chance to be relevant domestically again in terms of winning trophies, and Sunday gives us a chance to take a step towards that,” McInnes concluded, underscoring the significance of the upcoming cup tie.
Transfer Update and Cup Draw Details
In terms of team news, McInnes reported no new injury concerns following the midweek fixture against St Mirren. He also provided an update on defender John Souttar, who has been linked with a move to Greek club Aris Thessaloniki. “I spoke to John this morning, he trained,” McInnes confirmed. “There’s a bit of interest in him from one or two clubs. One club maybe a bit further down the line than the other but I think it’s something that could develop. I don’t think it’s at that stage yet but maybe something will happen over the next two or three days.” This suggests that while discussions are ongoing, a transfer is not yet finalized.
Furthermore, the SPFL has announced that the draw for the Premier Sports Cup semi-final will be conducted immediately after the conclusion of the Rangers vs. Celtic match at Ibrox. The semi-final fixtures themselves are scheduled to take place on October 31 and November 1.
Looking Ahead: The Old Firm Rivalry
The upcoming Premier Sports Cup quarter-final represents the first of two significant encounters between Rangers and Celtic within a single week, highlighting the intensity of the Old Firm rivalry. McInnes’s focus on fan engagement and performance underscores the high stakes involved, not only for progression in the cup but also for building crucial momentum and confidence in his quest for his first Old Firm victory as a manager.
