Rangers boss Mark Warburton not distracted by Celtic clash
Wednesday 9 March 2016 16:33, UK
Rangers boss Mark Warburton has described his side's clash against Celtic as one of the "world's biggest derbies" but insisted he is still entirely focused on league matters.
The two sides meet in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April in a highly-anticipated match at Hampden Park but Warburton says his first encounter with the Parkhead club will not distract his attention from securing promotion to Scotland's top tier.
Rangers are 12 points clear of Falkirk with a game in hand at the top of the Championship and face Greenock Morton on Friday night, looking to build on the weekend's comprehensive win over Dundee which secured their place at Hampden.
And while Warburton appreciates the enormity of the impending clash with Celtic, he maintains his focus in the short term lies elsewhere.
"It's a great game for the players, it is one of the world's biggest derbies, there is no doubt about that, but it is many weeks away as far as we are concerned," he said. "There is a lot of work to do between now and then.
"Right now it is just about having a job to do. You could have a scenario whereby you could go into that semi-final, you could win by seven goals - if you don't do your job in the league we have had a shocking season. Our job is to make sure we get the task done in the league.
"Big game on Friday against Morton, that is the key right now and if we can get our job done and win our games of football when it comes round to the game against Celtic we will enjoy it and prepare well for it but right now it is not in our thoughts. It is not mentioned at meetings at all."
Warburton said the prospect of being involved in Glasgow derbies and other big games were "part of the bigger picture" before he came to Scotland but insisted he is focused on work which needs to be done this season.
"That's the bigger picture but Rangers are a huge club," he said. "I was made very aware of the stature, history and tradition of the club but it was clear what we had to do.
"And before we talk about Celtic and games of that level, we have a job to do in terms of the Championship and getting the club back to the top tier and that's what we have to do so any other bits on top are nice to have but the important thing we have to do is achieve our aims this season."
