Pedro Caixinha says Rangers can still finish second in table
Friday 7 April 2017 14:32, UK
Pedro Caixinha still harbours ambitions that Rangers can finish second in this season's Scottish Premiership table but realises they will have to beat Aberdeen on Sunday to stand any chance of doing so.
The new boss at Ibrox will take his squad to Pittodrie 12 points adrift of the Dons who have won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Both sides have seven fixtures left and will face each other again before the season is over.
Caixinha said: "It's a game that we must win if we want to finish second, definitely. And it's also the first of the last seven fixtures. We put one challenge to ourselves, starting with this one.
"The players need to see this game and all the games until the end as challenges. That's the way I see life.
Live SPFL Football
"I came here for the challenge and I want the players to have that feeling as well, because representing Rangers is about being challenged, all day long, day by day, your entire life.
"This is the first challenge we face and the challenge is to see where we can reach in the last seven games."
He also described the trip to Aberdeen in unflattering terms: "Everybody says that we are going to hell and I like those type of scenarios.
"The history of football started with two cities fighting until they take the ball from one specific place and you can score one goal. Those moments were really violent and that's the nature of football.
"We need to be clever, we need to have the right attitude and approach and grow with that old-style environment.
"We are going to play against a strong opponent. It is a side that has had, if not four, then at least three years working together on the same basis, with the same manager.
"Of course it's also important to realise that along this period, Rangers were not playing in the Scottish Premier. But football is the moment and Rangers are Rangers.
"We know we are going to face a strong squad in a hostile environment so you need to be prepared for it in order to know what sort of problems the opponent will pose you if you let it."
