Hibs boss Alan Stubbs enjoying mind games ahead of Rangers clash
Tuesday 22 December 2015 13:57, UK
Alan Stubbs says he enjoys indulging in mind games as he prepares to take his Hibernian side to face Championship rivals Rangers.
The Hibs head coach has tried to provoke his Ibrox counterpart Mark Warburton on different occasions this season, including about the size of the Gers budget.
While Warburton has moved to play down any notion of a feud between the opposing bosses, Stubbs admits he does enjoy the verbal sparring ahead of the clash between the pair on December 28.
"I love it, I think it is great, I really do. Mind games, whatever you want to call it, I enjoy it," Stubbs told Sky Sports News HQ.
"Football is serious enough and sometimes you are in a no-win situation because if you don't say anything you are a bit drab and boring. If you do say something you are causing mischief so I may say something, I may not, but the most important thing for me is that, more often than not, my team do the talking.
"It is not between me and Mark, there are obviously words spoken but I can honestly look in the mirror and say some of the words I've spoken are facts. I know the facts, if they are not facts then prove me wrong."
Stubbs believes the pressure is on Rangers going into Monday's fixture, with his side unbeaten in 17 games since a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox in August, while Warburton's team have won just two of their last six league games.
"It is because they are at home and I think on the back of their recent results there is pressure on them," Stubbs said. "I think that's just me being honest, I don't think it is mind games. If it was at Easter Road we would expect to win the game so that will be the same with Rangers.
"It will be a full house, it will be very noisy and intimidating. Rangers are a great club, but we have got a chance of going there and getting a result against a great club on Monday."
