By Craig Rae.
Rangers take on their old rivals in the Viaplay Cup Final and Follow Follow were invited to the player press conferences ahead of the big match on Sunday.
Borna Barisic, Fashion Sakala and the latest Hall of Fame inductee James Tavernier took time out of their busy schedule to speak to the press.
The Other Mob
First up was Fashion ‘the other mob’ Sakala, who was in excellent form and all smiles ahead of Sunday. A man who has previous against Celtic, wiping £20m off Josip Juranovic’s price tag the last time the two sides met in January.
Despite the obvious soundbites that his press conference will provide to the media, I found his comments about his village back home interesting. Asked if his family in Zambia will be watching the big game, the forward replied:
“They watch every game on Rangers TV. Most of the time before the game I have a Facetime call with people in my village and we talk. They are preparing to watch the game and it’s making them more excited to be happy and know they are watching a boy from the village where I was born.”
“They always say it would take years for a player from there to come and play in Europe but nothing is impossible, as we believe, they are very proud of me.”
The Zambian has arguably been the most consistent player since Beale’s arrival, with 3 goals and 5 assists being achieved since his return to the side.
He seems to have made the right forward position his own and has history in this fixture, with a deflection robbing him of a winning goal in the last meeting at Hampden between the sides in last season’s Scottish Cup.
Could Sunday be another time for Fashion to shine on the big stage?
Barisic – ‘lessons learned’
Borna Barisic is also someone who has seen a resurgence in form under Beale. After missing the first couple of games due to Croatia’s World Cup successes, the left back has came back in and provided a well needed balance across the back four.
The Croat has racked up 2 winnings goals and 4 assists since his return to the side and whilst he has played well, he has an unfortunate recent history in this fixture. Including in the last League Cup Final in 2019 where Celtic won with an offside goal and Barisic is looking to avenge that result on Sunday.
“The lesson is this – it’s not about a pretty game. It’s not about who has played better, it’s just about winning. We can talk now about how we played better, which is true, but they won the trophy and we didn’t, so it doesn’t matter.”
“The only thing that matters is winning the trophy on Sunday. This way, or another way, I hope we have learned from the last time.”
“We knew that before, but when you experience that on your skin then you figure out that the only thing that is important is winning the game. As you can see, we are still talking about this game three years later.”
The game will be close and there is every possibility that extra time and penalty kicks may be required to settle the tie.
Barisic has taken some penalties in the past and has a decent record but came off with cramp during the Europa League Final which meant that he couldn’t step up.
Hopefully if it does go all the way, Barisic can show courage and desire to dispatch his penalty.
Captain’s Contribution?
Speaking of penalties, James Tavernier was next up to speak to the media and if you (unfortunately) remember, the captain allowed Alfredo Morelos to take up spot kick duties in that final in 2019 and of course the Colombian missed.
Tavernier dispatched his last penalty against Celtic and I think it’s safe to say that the Rangers Hall of Famer will step up on Sunday if required.
He already has two different experiences of lifting trophies as Rangers captain and can complete the domestic set on Sunday if we win, he was asked if lifting the Scottish Cup at Hampden last year exceeded his expectations:
“The first one was behind closed doors and the Scottish Cup was in front of our fans and it was a different experience but it was amazing to do that in front of our own fans and we have an opportunity on Sunday to get our hands on the cup this Sunday.”
On this historic week, it would be rude not to mention his Hall of Fame induction.
Many will have differing opinions on this, but I have no doubt that this is deserved. Tavernier epitomises the journey that we have been on as a club and led the club to the most significant title in its history, he led us to our first Scottish Cup in 13 years and led us back into the Champions League.
Only a missed penalty denied him being the club’s 2nd ever captain behind the legendary John Greig to lead us to European Success.
It is more than deserved.
On his induction, Tavernier said:
“It’s not sank in, the magnitude of it and your name is going to be on the marble staircase on the wall with the greats of our club and it’s such a huge honour. TO be inducted with Davis and McGregor who have been great servants to our club, it’s a great honour. It was a great start to the weekend leading into a Cup Final it was a nice touch.”
Waiting Game
The manager couldn’t give an update in to the fitness of Tillman, Jack, Lundstram and Roofe and if they are to play then they would have returned to training later on in the week as opposed to the start.
We know what Kemar Roofe can do when given the opportunity but Malik Tillman would be a huge miss considering his form as of late.
Fingers crossed that all four players can make it, and fingers crossed that Rangers bring the cup home for a record 28th time on Sunday.
