In a new interview with The Herald, Ibrox boss Mark Warburton has defended his record at the club and pleaded for patience as Rangers continue their efforts to build a team capable of challenging arch rivals Celtic.
It’s been a tough week for Warburton. His side travelled to Tynecastle on Wednesday hoping to take a big step towards consolidating second place in the Scottish Premiership table.
What awaited the Gers was a dominant Hearts performance that has led to soul searching within Ibrox and the Rangers support.
The Jambos won 4-1 on the night, the first big victory for new Hearts boss Ian Cathro, and the fall-out has been severe with many fans beginning to lose patience with Warburton’s management.
With Celtic also winning against Aberdeen on Wednesday, it means Rangers are now a massive 25 points behind Brendan Rodgers’ side in the league table.
For Warburton it’s all about incremental steps and in the interview he states he’s hoping that in securing second place they can at least look at achieving UEFA Europa League football, the next check mark on their progress as a club. However, he’s also admitted that the gap between his side and Celtic could in fact widen next season.
As quoted by The Herald, Warburton said:
We are not in the Champions League next year – they are. So the gap could widen again. But we have to find a way. Time and giving young players a chance to develop is one way. But we are just being realistic. I understand history – I get all that – but this is literally an unprecedented situation.
The admission that Celtic could streak further ahead next season is unlikely to be something that Gers fans will enjoy hearing but it’s at the very least an honest assessment of how things stand. Consolidation in the top-flight this term will be no bad thing.
What’s certain though is that results need to improve quickly. Heavy defeats like the one against Hearts will only mount more and more pressure on the Ibrox boss. They are in serious risk of finishing third behind Aberdeen and if that happens, there’s unlikely to be a happy ending for Mark Warburton at the club.
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