The one-time Rangers striker has been impressed with Steven Gerrard’s side, who could claim a Scottish Cup semi-final place at Ibrox tonight.
The one-time Rangers striker, Martyn Waghorn, has claimed that he struggles to explain to outsiders just how big games between the Gers and Aberdeen actually are.
The two sides meet for the sixth time time this season at Ibrox later this evening (Tuesday), with a Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic at stake.
And although Rangers’ biggest rivalry is of course with their Glasgow rivals, games against Aberdeen are not without significance.
“I try telling the lads like how intense it is and how important it is, but I don’t think you can really explain until you’ve actually been there at the club and played in these games,” Waghorn, now of Derby County, told Talksport earlier.
“These fans, it’s everything to them – and the lads as well. It’s a chance to win silverware, to get one over Aberdeen, to get one over Celtic.
“To be fair I think the (Rangers) boys have deserved it. They’ve been absolutely fantastic. Another transitional year and they’ve coped with it very well. A big-name manager like (Steven) Gerrard – he’s done ever so well.
“But these games are massive, let’s not get around it. It’s all about winning, however it comes. Work hard, put your foot in, (have a) good old scrap and get the win. That’s what it’s all about.”
It is almost three years since Rangers, then a Championship side, met Celtic in the competition’s last four.
And although Waghorn was not involved that day, he has no trouble remembering it.
“I remember my first year there we got to the semi-final,” he said of the game Rangers won 5-4 on penalties, after extra time ended with the score 2-2. “The occasion was huge at Hampden Park. It was massive. And listen, that’s what they want to do. They want to go there, they want to win trophies and I’m sure they’ll be right up for it.”
Waghorn was sold to Ipswich Town for around £1 million the following summer, and moved to Derby for around five times that amount a year later (Transfemarkt).
But asked whether he has fond memories of his time at Rangers, Waghorn replied: “Yeah, of course. The opportunity to go and play for a traditional club like that was massive. I could never really turn it down.
“Playing in front of 50-55,000 week-in-week-out, going to lower league grounds and selling out the full stadium, it was incredible. It’s an experience that I will never forget
“Obviously I had some good times with them. I loved my time there. It brought me on loads as a player and as person.
“To play for a club like that was incredible.”
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