A few chuckles rung out around Ibrox after Ianis Hagi was named Man of the Match against Dundee United, the Romanian the stand-out player over the weekend for the wrong reasons.
Starting out wide against the Arabs, Ianis toiled to influence the match and was wasteful in possession, his touch poor and the midfielder cutting a dejected and frustrated figure throughout.
The second half was undoubtedly better, as Scott Wright came on for John Lundstram, shifted out wide and allowed Ianis Hagi to come into the middle of the pitch off Rangers star Alfredo Morelos.
But still, this was an indulgent performance – summed up by that pathetic injury-time rabona – and for fans in the stadium, the midfielder has a bit of making up to do in the matches ahead.
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Given his astounding Man of the Match award too, Ianis Hagi did the press after the victory and his comments were not reassuring in the slightest.
Cutting a frustrated figure, Ianis Hagi spent much of it bleating about wanting to play in the middle of the park and even apologised for that rabona flick as the game came to a close.
“First of all I want to start by apologising to the fans for the last minute Rabona. I know that is not Rangers standard,” Hagi told RangersTV.
“I got a little bit carried away. I wanted to start with that.”
The midfielder then opened up during the press conference and was stubborn regarding his own positioning.
“In the past I’ve said I enjoy a lot playing in the middle of the pitch,” said Ianis Hagi.
“I think I get more touches on the ball, whenever the team has difficulties building up, I feel like I can get in really good spot and help the team get up the pitch.
“I really enjoyed the second half to be fair, more on the ball, creating more for the team, more runners in front of me, and I think that’s when I’m at my best.”
Rangers star Ianis Hagi cut a frustrated figure v Dundee United
Reading between the lines, this very much sounds like Ianis Hagi sending a message to the Rangers coaching team and after a woeful personal performance, it also sounds particularly indulgent.
Contrast these comments with the words of Calvin Bassey – who prefers left-back but has shone at centre-back at recent weeks – and fan frustration in Ianis Hagi appears justified.
“I will play anywhere the manager wants me. Being young you need to build trust,” said Calvin.
There is a selfishness to what Hagi said and coupled with an underwhelming performance, the Romanian midfielder needs to find his focus and form or risk further ire from Rangers fans.
Comments from the Romanian midfielder also prove just how much Ibrox captain James Tavernier stepped up for the side over the weekend.
