Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has questioned the levels of responsibility amongst the Rangers team in regard to the second half implosion against Liverpool in midweek.
The treble winning Ibrox captain more or less stated what many fans had expressed in the aftermath of a game that has caused a shock inside and out of the dressing room. That claim doesn’t come with any particular insight but the reaction from the manager spoke volumes regarding not knowing where the collapse came from, or the players being in a stunned silence.
Further criticism and pressure now comes the way of Gio van Bronckhorst with the only way to respond coming in the form of consistent league wins.
Ferguson knows all about the demands from his time at Rangers. As a player and captain he was renowned for setting standards as well as leading by example on the pitch. He is able to speak and be critical because of his track record.
“I think it was the manner of the defeat to Liverpool. It was conceding the goals in the short period of time. When you are in a game and when you are in the moment you have got to realise that. You have got to take responsibility on the pitch and think to yourself ‘we are too wide open here. They are cutting through us too easy’.”
“So that’s where you go and you maybe sit ten men behind the ball and make it difficult for them to do that. But in terms of the quality and the level of player they are up against is top level.”
The first test will come whenever Rangers find themselves trailing in a game or even during a stalemate with the score tied. That will effectively be as soon as Sunday against Motherwell and the response will need to be an emphatic one.