Rangers boss Mark Warburton focused on promotion rather than Celtic fixture
Sunday 6 March 2016 20:12, UK
Rangers manager Mark Warburton says there will be no mention of next month’s Scottish Cup semi-final with rivals Celtic until the week before the game.
The Light Blues defeated Dundee 4-0 on Saturday to set up a last-four clash against the Hoops, who saw off Morton 3-0 on Sunday.
But Warburton insists his side must focus on their promotion push and the Petrofac Training Cup final at Hampden Park on April 10.
The Rangers boss, whose side are 12 points clear in the Scottish Championship, told his club's official website: "I understand fully that it is a good draw for the fans, and all the teams left in the competition were good, high-calibre teams, and whoever we drew was going to be a tough challenge.
"Right now though, our only focus is Friday night and Morton, and that won't change.
"Yes, it's a game to look forward to, absolutely, but our priority has to be the league campaign. The biggest game right now is Morton, and the biggest game after that will be the next league game.
"It's not going to be a massive build-up either in the camp - it's going to be all about our league campaign, and when the game comes around, then we can focus on it at the right time. But we won't mention it until the week of it.
"I understand it is a big game and a big event, and I understand there will by media hysteria, but from our point of view, that game is a long way off and between now and then, we have a lot of work to do in our league campaign."
Rangers striker Kenny Miller has allowed himself to look ahead to the tie, though, which is one he feels they can win.
"There was every chance we were going to get them at some point, and as we said after the game yesterday, we don't fear anyone," he told the Gers' website.
"Whoever we drew was just going to be standing in the way of our goal which is to win the Scottish Cup, and I've said all along, we have to get past Celtic if we want to win it.
"It will be a tough game as all the games are, but I am fully confident if we go about the job in the way we know we can that we can get the right result.
It's not going to be a massive build-up in the camp - it's going to be all about our league campaign. We won't mention it until the week of it.
"The manager has got us playing and has got us believing in the way we are playing, and that will never change no matter who we play.
"If we can perform and do the right things that we do day in and day out, it can all come to fruition as it did yesterday [Saturday].
"I thought to a man the lads were excellent both offensively and defensively in terms of scoring goals, creating chances and keeping the back door shut.
"It was a pretty whole performance from start to finish, and if we can go and emulate that and do the right things which we talk about all the time, then there is no reason why we can't go and get the right result."
