Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson has given in an insight into a meeting he held with his Rangers players on Monday.
Ferguson was absolutely fuming on Saturday after watching his Rangers flops lose 2-0 to Hibs at Ibrox, the club’s fifth consecutive defeat at home.
That has never happened before in the club’s history, while Rangers have now conceded at least two goals in their last six league games for the first time since 1894.
Ferguson took a share of the responsibility for the dire defeat, but called out his players for not making the squad look anything like a proper Rangers team.
Speaking ahead of Rangers facing Athletic Club in the Europa League on Thursday night, the interim manager admits Saturday and Sunday were hard to endure.
Ferguson addresses key Rangers meeting after Hibs disaster
He revealed a meeting with his players was had on Monday and shared that it wasn’t just a one-way conversation. And he was happy that his previously ‘quiet’ players were keen to voice their views.
“I’m feeling better. Saturday and Sunday were difficult”, Ferguson told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
“We got in on Monday morning and let’s just say we had a long, long chat. I aired my views, so did the staff and the players, which I was happy with because we’ve been too quiet.
“So it was good. And then we got to train on Monday to prepare for this game tomorrow night.
“I would rather keep it in house (what was said). But I thought the time was right to spend a bit of time with them and go through a lot of things I clearly wasn’t happy with.
“It’s good to get their point of view as well, because we need to get to the bottom of it. It’s been a real issue.
“I came out of the meeting, training was bubbly on Monday. That’s what I want, I don’t want anyone moping about and being unhappy. There were a lot of things said.
“We had a good session on Tuesday. We’re totally clear on how we’re going to approach the rest of the season, not just tomorrow night.”
Ferguson will make Rangers changes for Athletic Club
Ferguson made clear on Saturday – and once again at his pre-Athletic Club press conference – that several changes to the starting XI will be made.
But the interim manager was extremely coy when reporters quizzed him on individual players, namely Jack Butland and Cyriel Dessers.
He did not want to go into specifics and simply repeated that ‘you will have to wait and see’ what his full Rangers selection will be.
Richard Foster wants to see Liam Kelly start, while Kris Boyd praised the ex-Motherwell man for his previous run in between the sticks.
While many have leapt to the defence of Cyriel Dessers despite his tendency to miss a number of guilt-edged chances, particularly over the last couple of Rangers matches.
