Rangers assistant manager Billy Dodds emphasized the importance of making Celtic wait to win the title, stressing that his team needs to focus on beating Aberdeen in their upcoming match. Despite Celtic’s 16-point lead with five games remaining, Dodds believes that Rangers can still cause an upset and keep the title race alive.
Dodds acknowledged that the team’s recent form under caretaker manager Barry Ferguson has been inconsistent, but he believes that the squad has responded positively after a frank discussion following their loss to Hibs. The team’s Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao will have to wait, as Dodds insists that Rangers needs to focus on the task at hand.
“Of course, it’s important, and we’re striving to do that,” Dodds said. “We’ll see what we’ve got for the Aberdeen game, but I swear, all we’re concentrating on is Aberdeen. We can’t afford to look beyond them and think about next Thursday’s game. That would be naive and stupid.”
Dodds emphasized that the clash with Aberdeen is just as significant as the one with Athletic Bilbao, despite the league title seeming like a foregone conclusion. “As a member of staff and being a former player, you can’t think of things like that,” he said. “It would be crazy. If you take your eyes off Aberdeen and the size of the fixture it is, it would be naive and stupid.”
The Rangers assistant manager also highlighted the importance of giving their all in every game, regardless of the opponent or circumstances. “We need to go full out, whoever we’re playing, and whatever team we pick,” he said. “We want to beat every team we’ve played, and there have been some disappointments, so we know how that feels.”
Dodds drew confidence from Rangers’ previous performances in big games, including their win at Celtic Park in the Europa League. “We’ve got to take so much confidence from Thursday night,” he said. “Performances like that bring you energy reserves, and that’s what we’re going to need when we face Aberdeen.”
With Aberdeen fighting for a European spot, the match is expected to be intense, and Rangers will need to be at their best to come out on top. Dodds is adamant that his team will give it their all and make a strong effort to keep Celtic from clinching the title just yet.
