Barry Ferguson feels that Pedro Caixinha needs to be realistic in the transfer market.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha before the match
Barry Ferguson has voiced concerns about Pedro Caixinha’s methods of handling his players.
The former Rangers midfielder believes that by openly talking about bringing players of his own, Caixinha is only distancing himself from the current bunch of players.
Ferguson believes that in an attempt to send a clear message of massive overhaul of the Rangers squad, Caixinha is creating an unrest in the dressing room, as if “he is going to war” with his players.
The former Blackburn Rovers midfielder has cited the example of Clint Hill, who has been told that he is not wanted at the club next season.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha before the match
“What worries me, though, is the relationship between the manager and the players because it feels a little bit as if he’s going to war with them and I’m not sure that’s a great idea,” Ferguson wrote in his column for the Daily Record.
“He may well want to clear a lot of them out and bring in his own signings but he needs to be realistic about what he can achieve in the transfer market this summer.
“The players inside that dressing room will be feeling a vulnerable right now, as if they are coming under attack. Clint Hill – one of the only leaders they’ve had this season – has been told he’s not wanted and he will not be the only one.”
While it is evident that Rangers do need to add quality players to their ranks in order to close the gap with Celtic, Ferguson believes that the Rangers manager needs to be realistic in the transfer market.
Ferguson says that it is unrealistic to think that Caixinha can ship out as many as 12 players and bring in the same number of players in one transfer window.
The former Rangers midfielder advices Caixinha to rely on some of the current players who will play a part next season.
“If he thinks he can ship 12 players out and bring another 12 in during June then he’s got another think coming,” he added.
“That would be 24 separate deals – almost one player coming or going every day – over the course of a month before the first Europa League qualifier on June 29. And that’s just not going to happen.
“So like it or not, he’s going to have to rely on some of the players who are still in that dressing room and he has to be careful to keep them on his side.
To be fair, Ferguson has a valid point here. By openly discussing about transfer strategies, Caixinha is creating a vulnerable dressing room, which could back fire in the long run.
General View of Ibrox Stadium
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