Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha has hailed Hamilton’s Ali Crawford.
New Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers’ new manager Pedro Caixinha has told the club’s official YouTube channel that he thinks Hamilton Academical’s Ali Crawford is a ‘very good player’.
The Gers landed Caixinha as their new manager last weekend, and after presenting him to the media on Monday, the Portuguese boss is preparing for his first game in charge this weekend.
Having watched Rangers in action against Celtic last Sunday, Caixinha will now oversee his first game in charge on Saturday, as Hamilton Academical arrive at Ibrox.
The Accies spoiled Rangers’ party on the opening day of the season, picking up a 1-1 draw at Ibrox thanks to a superb goal from midfielder Ali Crawford, before Martyn Waghorn rescued a point in the second half.
Crawford showed his quality with a superb turn inside the box before smashing a left-footed strike into the top corner of the net, and he has now scored nine goals in all competitions this season.
The 25-year-old playmaker is Hamilton’s prized asset, and HITC understood in January that Rangers were interested in signing Crawford having impressed for Martin Canning’s strugglers this season.
Virgil van Dijk (L) in action for Celtic with Hamilton Academical’s Ali Crawford
Ahead of Saturday’s game, Rangers manager Caixinha has told the club’s official YouTube channel that he has watched Crawford in action, and believes he is a ‘very good player’ who makes good decisions and makes a difference going forward.
“We know that Ali Crawford is a very good player,” said Caixinha. “I’ve watched a couple of games and he seems a good player, taking good decisions and making the difference,” he added.
Caixinha’s early impression of Crawford suggests that he could be a player for Rangers to target in the future, or at least monitor his progress starting this Saturday.
With loan playmakers Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman returning to Arsenal and Bournemouth respectively this summer, another creative player will be needed this summer – and a strong performance against Rangers this summer could just tempt Caixinha into making a move.
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