Johnstone issues reality check and describes Rangers’ defeat as ‘harsh lesson’

Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers legend Derek Johnstone has made some interesting comments in the wake of the club’s loss to Celtic.

Rangers legend Derek Johnstone has spoken out on Rangers’ defeat to Celtic last weekend, as the club attempt to bounce back from a loss that will likely end their title ambitions this season.

The 64-year-old is no stranger to finding himself in these kinds of high-pressure situations, but as reported by Evening Times, it is an experience that will prove to be invaluable for Graeme Murty as he continues to try and guide the club in the right direction.

“Murty is still a young and inexperienced manager, and there’s no doubt that the man in the Celtic dugout showed the difference that a seasoned manager can make at crucial points in massive games,” Johnstone told the Evening Times.

“He [Murty] deserves the chance to keep that going and put into practice the lessons, especially the harsh ones like Sunday’s, that he has picked up along the way.”

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that errors were made during the Old Firm derby, and that Celtic’s experience assisted them greatly in coming out of the clash on top. However, that does not mean people need to start throwing the book at Murty.

This is his first official job in management, and at the age of just 43, it is not ridiculous to suggest that he could still have two decades left in this game at the highest level. Right now the situation is a delicate one given that their hopes of overtaking Celtic are all but over, although there is still hope to be found as Johnstone has touched upon.

The core of this Rangers team is made up of players who are passionate about this club and will do anything to see them succeed. In past years they have looked towards name value and individual quality over hard-working talent, but now all the pieces are falling into place for them to make a serious run next season.

Mistakes happen in this game, and you can either learn from them or allow them to dictate your future. For Rangers and Murty, another season of their rivals reigning supreme will be a hard pill to swallow, but we have always known that the rebuilding process was going to take time.

As long as they manage their expectations to a realistic degree and don’t allow themselves to be overwhelmed by Celtic’s success, they will continue to develop at a promising rate as a squad.