Gutted Gio van Bronckhorst accused his Rangers players of not being ready for Celtic after a 4-0 derby day drubbing.
The Ibrox boss admits his team couldn’t live with their Glasgow rivals’ speed and intensity at Parkhead. They were three goals down at half-time after Liel Abada’s double and a Jota strike. Then a horrendous mistake from Gers keeper Jon McLaughlin allowed David Turnbull to add a fourth.
Van Bronckhorst still hasn’t won a league game against Celtic in four attempts and says Saturday’s capitulation was similar to their 3-0 defeat back in February. Now, he has to lift his players for Ajax away in the Champions League on Wednesday night. And the Dutchman is adamant they CAN recover from the five-point gap Celtic have at the top of the Premiership. Van Bronckhorst said: "It was a repeat of the last game we played in February. We prepared for these moments and we weren't ready.
“I’m very disappointed with the result and the way we conceded the goals. We knew their strengths at free-kicks and throw-ins but both times we weren’t ready and conceded goals.
"You know when you concede early goals like that then you make them stronger and more difficult for yourself. So we’re disappointed with that. That’s the thing I feel now.
“You want to play a good game. Of course, you can always have goals against you but not in this manner. That’s not the way we concede goals.
“I don’t know what it was. It’s very difficult for me to say why we weren’t alert, which was the most important thing.
“That’s why you give away two goals - and the fourth goal as well. That’s three goals that could have been avoided. You know the start you have is important and also in terms of how the game will develop.
“We knew the threat they had and we were exposed twice. We knew they were going to do it and still we were not prepared enough.
“Those moments in the first half decide the game. The longer the 0-0 is on the scoreboard the more you can grow. That wasn’t the case.
“I said to the players we had a very disappointing performance and gave three goals away which makes it very hard when you go away to Celtic. We also couldn’t give our fans the game we wanted. It’s a loss for us, we have to take it on the chin and move forward after this.”
Van Bronckhorst admits his players’ confidence will take a dent after the Parkhead mauling. Ange Postecoglou’s side are now five points clear at the top with the season barely underway.
They also have to be ready for a tough match in Amsterdam in midweek. The Rangers boss said: “We have lost five points but there is still a lot to play for with three games against Celtic.
“We’ve done it before. It’s only one game. We have to go forward and make sure we can close the gap.
“We have to move on, get stronger and make sure the moments we had today can never happen again, no matter which opposition we play. Of course the result is not good for confidence. You should feel the way we all do.
“You can’t look forward to Wednesday, everyone needs to learn and reflect. It’s the same for me. We are feeling very disappointed and tomorrow we have to work forward to concentrate on Ajax.”
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