Legendary former Rangers captain Richard Gough has criticised current club vice-captain Connor Goldson for his comments after the Premier Sports Cup defeat to Hibs.
The ex-Gers defender has also urged club legend Allan McGregor and Steven Davis to have a word with Connor after the defender claimed the game was done at halftime.
Gough, 59, was speaking after Connor Goldson’s explosive post-match interview following the 3-1 semi-final defeat at Hampden which saw the Ibrox club miss out on yet another final.
There are serious questions regarding the mentality of the side – particularly in cup competition – and these weren’t helped by the comments of Connor.
But whilst talking about losing the “hunger” is one thing, the notion that the game was gone at 3-1 has also perturbed Rangers legend Richard Gough.
“As a Rangers fan I’d be very disappointed in hearing him say they’ve lost their hunger,” said Gough [BBC Sportsound].
“Most of the players have won one trophy out of nine so how can they lose their hunger? That, for me, is a big one.
“And another one was the game being over at half time when they were 3-1 down.
“I had eight hours in the company of Alex Ferguson and I picked up a lot of things in that time as we celebrated Walter Smith’s life.
“He said when you play for big clubs – whether it be Rangers, Celtic, Barcelona, Real Madrid – there’s traditions and an expectation that come with playing for those clubs.
“When you come to Rangers as a player there’s an expectation at that club that you don’t lose games and that goes with you throughout your life.
“So when a Rangers player comes out and says the game’s down at half time when you’re 3-1 down it’s not right.
“Our club is built on an ethos of no surrender. And we don’t surrender. We’re not going to surrender games at half time when 3-1 down.
“If I was an experienced player in that dressing room like Allan McGregor or Steven Davis then I’d be having a word with that young man who has maybe played at Shrewsbury and Brighton and saying ’the game is never over’.”
Richard Gough also takes aim at Rangers captain James Tavernier
Not only that, but Gough has also taken aim at James Tavernier for not facing up to the cameras after the crushing defeat to Jack Ross’ side.
Gough explained that after a bruising defeat he was always expected to front up to the cameras and has slammed Tavernier for letting Goldson give the interview.
“Sometimes the truth has to be told and I’ve seen the interview from Connor Goldson,” said Gough.
“But before I talk about that interview I would want to know why James Tavernier wasn’t out as club captain.
“I can remember being wheeled out most of the time when we lost a game. Walter would say ‘Can you do the press Goughie?’
“I was never wheeled out once when we won games – only when we lost! That was my first thinking, that the captain normally comes out and faces the press when you’re under the cosh.”
Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has his work cut out for him after taking over at Ibrox and the boss alluded to Connor’s comments as he was unveiled to the press.