Rangers supporters will be left to stew during the international break, still reeling from a shambolic Old Firm display. For the players called up by their national teams, it’s a chance to escape the fallout and focus on other matters, proving that their poor showing at Parkhead was merely an aberration.
However, Vaclav Cerny hasn’t been so fortunate. The Czech international, one of the high-profile summer signings brought in to close the gap on Celtic, has admitted his surprise at just how fierce the rivalry between the Glasgow giants really is.
Cerny was a key part of Rangers’ summer recruitment drive, joining on loan from Wolfsburg with high expectations. Facing Greg Taylor in the recent derby, many would have expected the winger to make more of his opportunity.
Instead, he found himself isolated, frequently running into traffic, and struggling to make an impact. It wasn’t until he switched to the left-hand side that he had any real influence in the final third.
Speaking ahead of the Czech Republic’s Nations League clash with Georgia, Cerny was candid about his side’s failings in the derby, as reported by The Sun:
“We didn’t do well at all, they outclassed us in everything. Now we have to catch them at any cost, that’s our main goal. I haven’t seen such a rivalry for a long time.
“Of course, I never played for Sparta Prague or Slavia Prague in their derby. But compared with our main derby, it is far bigger and more brutal.”
Philippe Clement, Rangers’ manager, had a slightly different take on the match. While Cerny admitted that Rangers were thoroughly outplayed, Clement suggested it was the fine margins that determined the outcome.
Asked about his thoughts on the game, he pointed to early missed opportunities:
“That we started the game really well. That we had the best of the ball in the first ten minutes, get two really good opportunities with Cyriel (Dessers) coming free in front of goal and with Rabbi with a free header there.
“So you need to be clinical in those games. To come in front changes the momentum. And it would have helped the team a lot to go in front here.”
Clement continued:
“We did good things with the ball to create that but we need to be more clinical in those moments. It was the same in the second half because at the end Celtic have 14 shots and we have 13, they had four on target, we had four on target.
“But you lose 3-0. That is really a clear result in difference in efficiency. Of course, you give them a lot of confidence if they come 1-0 in front and 2-0 in front. It is always easier to play. Ball possession was also equal today at 47-53 between the two teams.”
In this case, both Cerny and Clement are right in their assessments. Rangers may have created enough chances to win the game – and good chances at that – but they were unable to capitalise.
Despite the defeat, they managed to claim a higher share of possession than they have in previous trips to Parkhead, suggesting they were not entirely outclassed.
Yet, the forward line failed to click as they did a week earlier, and the midfield struggled to establish any control. The lack of effort and intensity, combined with a clear difference in efficiency in front of goal, led to a result that many Rangers fans had feared.
Clement will now have to find a way to address these issues before the two sides meet again.
Rangers’ inability to take their chances, combined with a lack of sharpness in key areas, means they’ll need a marked improvement if they’re to close the gap on Celtic. The international break offers time for reflection, but also serves as a reminder of how far behind they remain.