It wasn’t the best performance from Joe Worrall at Hampden, but he’s showed his class post-match.
The Rangers defender has come out and expressed the squad’s disappointment with Sunday. Rangers dominated Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup semi-finals, but failed to make their superiority count.
Due to how dominant Rangers were, it would be easy to come out and claim they were hard done by. Worrall, however, has stated the truth in that the Gers just weren’t good enough to win it.
As well as that, the on-loan Nottingham Forest defender took the time to praise Derek McInnes’ Dons for their display on the day. Worrall believes that if the roles were reversed, Rangers would’ve played in the exact same style.
“It was a kick in the teeth. It’s not the best we have played but credit to Aberdeen they stopped us from scoring and scored a set piece and they go through to the final and we don’t.
“It is fine margins these games and I think we have to create a bit more. Everyone is disappointed and hurting but we have a game to look forward to on Wednesday and we will put it right then.
“I think, as a team, collectively, we were below par and Aberdeen beat us. At the end of the day, fair play to Aberdeen they have come on the day. We’ve not played our best and they have scored a set piece.
“If roles had been reversed and we were playing against a Rangers then that is the same game plan we would want – to stick 11 behind the ball and then to win it via a set piece like they did.”
A classy view
There will be a small element of supporters who don’t like their players praising the opposition. In the main, however, everyone should see that it’s a classy move by the Gers defender.
Worrall certainly wasn’t one of the standouts at Hampden on Sunday. In truth, he put in an average display without too many mistakes. He was a tad weak for the goal, however, and he’s one who has to start delivering more consistently.
Rangers have shown this season that they aren’t afraid to sit back and counter when necessary. Against Villarreal, Ufa, and Celtic, Rangers have sat back and waited for their moments. On occasion it hasn’t worked, but there’s nothing wrong with how Aberdeen approached the game.
The “park the bus” strategy as it’s so often called has been much-maligned recently. But, against vastly superior opposition like Aberdeen were up against, it’s the safest way to set up.
Rangers struggled to break down the Dons resistance, and that’s a problem Steven Gerrard is going to have to get to the bottom of.
For now, however, it’s good to see a bit of class from one of Rangers’ main men.
