After a demoralising defeat at the weekend, Rangers can’t blame fatigue for Sunday’s result.
A 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park deflated just about every Rangers supporter. The manner of the loss even more so. It was a pitiful display that seen the Ibrox side stand off their Glasgow rivals and allow them to dictate.
Steven Gerrard certainly has a lot to answer for with regards to his tactics during the encounter. But it was just a roadblock in what’ll be a very long road to get to where Rangers want to be.
Controversial reaction
The post-match reaction has been littered with opinions and controversial reaction. One of those opinions is the idea Rangers were fatigued heading into Sunday’s contest.
It makes sense as to why this could be the case. Rangers just came into the match on the back of a tough night in Russia against FC Ufa. The Gers were down to nine men, and had to do a lot of running to see out a heroic result. Qualification to the Europa League was never going to be easy, but that was certainly a thrilling tie.
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On the other side of the divide, Celtic had a relatively comfortable home leg against Suduva to qualify for the same competition.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense that Rangers could’ve been suffering from some fatigue throughout the contest. It would maybe also explain Rangers’ tactics to try and contain Celtic throughout the game.
Energetic last 10 minutes
But, the main reason this isn’t the case, is because of the fact that Rangers had their most energetic spell in the match in the final 10 minutes. If the team were as tired as perceived, they would never have had that burst of life in them towards the death.
There weren’t many chances, but it was by far Rangers’ best spell in the match. It goes against everything fatigue should cause in a football match.
On top of that, if the players were tired, why did Gerrard make minimal changes to the side that started in Russia? Only Borna Barisic and Kyle Lafferty came into the side, leaving eight other outfield players starting that played at Ufa.
The first substitution made was also in the 81st minute. A side full of tiredness and low on fatigue would’ve been changed around a lot earlier.
Rangers didn’t lose at Celtic Park because they were tired. The match was lost thanks to negative and containment tactics.
Granted, the match may not have been won had they went at Celtic. But one thing’s for sure, Brendan Rodgers’ men wouldn’t have had it as easy.