Liam Kelly hasn’t minced his words in recent weeks as the Rangers goalkeeper slaughters his teammates for their abysmal away form.
Liam Kelly has come into the side in the absence of Jack Butland and been powerless to resist a domestic collapse which now sees Rangers 15 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Despite the gap, Liam Kelly insists Rangers are just focused on making progress at Ibrox this season as he talks protests, Jack Butland and his own form ahead of the clash with Aberdeen.
Rangers ‘desperate’ to climb league
”The atmosphere amongst the boys is OK.
“I’m not going to say it’s delighted, obviously we’re not pleased the position we find ourselves in in the league.
”We’re kind of content with the victory the other day against St Johnstone, a game that we were looking to win and we managed to do so in a comfortable fashion.
”We’re ok. Desperate to be higher up in the league.
“Obviously we’re not there now but a huge game tomorrow night.
”Obviously one of the biggest games for us and one we’re looking forward to.”
Difficult times should make Rangers ‘stronger’
“I think the more difficult times get the stronger you become as a team.
”And that’s always been the case since I’ve been at the club.
”The tougher the times the closer you should be getting.
”Ultimately find ourselves a few points behind top spot which is not acceptable and something that we’re really not happy with.
”But as a collective we’re looking forward and trying to close that gap.
“We are together absolutely. A lot of good guys, a lot of great players in that changing room.
”So one game at a time tomorrow night against Aberdeen and we want to show that we’re together.”
Rangers performances dictate ‘atmosphere’
”We are the atmosphere. How we play on the pitch dictates the atmosphere that’s around.
”We need to understand that we’ve got a massive responsibility to hundreds of thousands of people and we are the atmosphere.
”So ultimately how we perform on the pitch will dictate the noise around the place.”
Hibs goal only Liam Kelly regret
”I think I’ve done alright. I think I’ve done OK.
”I was kind of annoyed with the third goal against Hibs, I was a wee bit annoyed with that.
”Maybe come for a ball I should never be involved in, I should just stay.
”Ultimately I probably don’t save it anyway but the more game rhythm you get, I haven’t played for six months, but aye I’ve done OK.
”I don’t think I’ve had a massive influence in terms of the scoreline positively or negatively.
”I don’t think it’s made any difference who was in the goals.
“I think the boys in front of me have done really well for large spells.
“Ultimately there’s been the odd lapse which has made us concede a goal like the St Johnstone set piece the other day.
”But I think I’ve done fine. I don’t think I’ve caused any drama.
”That’s my role, get in, do your job for all the boys to try and win the games and tomorrow night will be the same.
”It’ll be a game that I’m looking to go under the radar and do what ever I need to do when called upon.
”It’s a game I’m really looking forward to again.”
Liam Kelly ‘not daft’ in Jack Butland Rangers battle
“Honestly things move so quickly at this place. They go so fast.
”I remember talking about how good we were against Celtic, and all of a sudden it was poor against Hibs, then against Dundee then better against St Johnstone.
”So many spinning plates isn’t there? One game at a time.
”I will try my best tomorrow night against Aberdeen, try and help the team as best I can.
”Whoever the manager picks, if it’s me, great, if it’s not and it’s Jack then he’s got my full support.
“I’m aware when I signed here what my role was.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t try and play as well as I can and I don’t try and keep the position.
“Ultimately I do, but I am not daft either. I know how things work.”
Rangers ‘expecting very best Aberdeen’
”Obviously Aberdeen beat us at Pittodrie up there.
“They’d never even lost a game until mid-November. A month and a half ago was their first defeat.
”So we’re playing against a really good team with a really good manager.
”Obviously they’ve not had the results maybe they’ve been looking for.
”Obviously Ross makes a great penalty save last minute against Hearts at the weekend.
”We’re expecting the very best version of Aberdeen, one that’s caused everybody problems in the league this year.
”We can’t have a bigger warning. They beat us in the previous fixture.
”So we need to be on it and it’s a game that we need to be at our absolute best to take maximum points from.”
Rangers changing room ‘desperate to win’
”I think a lot of the boys in the changing room are aware that we must win.
“It doesn’t matter the moment or anything like that, you must win.
“People don’t care the story. Ultimately they only care when you win.
”I say that to the boys all the time, the boys aren’t daft, they know we need to win.
”We’ve got a changing room of really good guys who are absolutely desperate to win and that are hurting massively when we don’t win.
”I am well aware my whole life being here obviously we could never draw, we could never lose and when you do it’s the end of the world.
”So that’s not been a surprise to me but like I say the boys are absolutely desperate to win, you can’t get away from that.
Liam Kelly on Rangers protests
“Obviously you’re aware of the noise of round about normally when it is so loud.
”So it was slightly different, I’m not going to say it wasn’t.
”I think we kind of scored three goals rapid and that kind of helped, it pepped everyone up.
“Ultimately it was a bit of a strange feeling but we were there to get the job done, we were there to get the three points. We managed to do that.
”Supporters are within their rights to do whatever they want to do.
”Us as players we’ve not got to tell anyone what to do.
“We’re so grateful for all the support that we get through all the good times and the difficult times.
”Ultimately the more support we get the better but the support’s been unwavering for many years here so we can’t complain.”
Rangers expect big ‘atmosphere’ v Aberdeen
”Aye but they always bring it.
”We’re obviously well aware that Aberdeen is a huge fixture for the club and we expect that atmosphere tomorrow night.
”It’s a really difficult game.
“Like I said the tougher the game the better we do usually, so hopefully that’s the same tomorrow night.
”Obviously I’ve said they’ve not been on a great run but they’re still fourth in the league, they’re still in a really good position.
”They’ve got some brilliant individual players, really good pace at the top end of the pitch as well so we’re definitely preparing for the best version of Aberdeen.
”Our supporters at home under the lights, always a special night so it’s a night we’re really looking forward to.”
’No change’ in Philippe Clement
“I’ve not seen any change in him, he’s been consistent. I will say that.
”He’s been frustrated with the fact that we can perform that well against Celtic and then the first 25 minutes v Hibs and then we can drop off.
”He’s frustrated, he’s been searching for answers, searching for ways to make us better.
“That’s a constant, always looking for ways to make us improve.
”And it’s not as if we’re in there thinking there’s no way that we can improve.
”We’re well aware that there’s massive improvement that we can make and it’s something that we’re absolutely all desperate to do.”
Liam Kelly on makeshift backline
”It’s never easy when you’re playing with a different back four but I’m new as well.
”So it’s not as if I can complain about anyone else being new, I’ve just been thrown in as well.
”They’d probably be easier with a goalkeeper that’s been playing the last six months.
”So aye like you say, try and do your own job, help your teammates as best as possible but like I say, I’m new just as the rest of them.”
