The derby Down Under has sent the Ibrox faithful doolally but Giovanni van Bronckhorst has no doubt the Rangers fans will still be mad keen to support his team’s bid to reclaim top spot.
The Ibrox board’s decision to sign up to November’s jaunt half-way round the world for the Sydney Super Cup has sparked a furious backlash from the Gers support.
Fans groups including Club 1872 and the Union Bears have launched blistering broadsides on the Ibrox board’s decision to cosy up with Celtic for the antipodean adventure, while there were also banners blasting “money over morals” during Wednesday’s win at St Johnstone.
The row threatens to overshadow preparations for Saturday’s anniversary celebrations ahead of the clash with Aberdeen.
But van Bronckhorst reckons the punters will have no problem separating their anger at the board from their loyalty to the team he picks to face Jim Goodwin’s Dons.
He said: “The message is clear, we need all the support we have which the supporters gave us last Wednesday.
“Of course, they are entitled to their opinions which is OK.
“On the other hand, you see they weren’t happy with the friendly obviously but they also supported us.
“In the end, we have to be successful, they are more than capable of supporting the team because we want to be successful this season.
“I have no doubt that the supporters will be fully behind us tomorrow against Aberdeen so I think that’s all that matters.
“They showed they’re not happy about the friendly in November but they are still backing us as a team and as a club.”
Van Bronckhorst gave the trip to New South Wales his blessing earlier this week after Rangers commercial chief James Bisgrove revealed the eight-day expedition could bank the club a fee of around £3million.
And the Ibrox gaffer doubled down on his backing as he insisted it was too good a deal to turn down.
He said: “I know the club is looking for friendly games, not only in that window but also in the international windows we have and I think it’s an opportunity for the club to go there, to go and play for our fans who are based in Australia.
“The club made a decision to go there because they do everything in the best interests of the club so, for me, you just have to respect that decision and play a good couple of friendlies in Australia in November.”
Ibrox bosses hope this week’s bitter fall-out will not spoil this weekend’s anniversary bash.
And van Bronckhorst shrugged off suggestions his side will be under extra pressure to ensure the party atmosphere does not fall flat.
“No, I don’t think so because all we’ve been focusing on is the game against Aberdeen which is a special game because it’s our 150th anniversary which is a special moment for the club,” he said. "In the end, we are here to win games and to be successful so the concentration we have and the focus is only on winning against Aberdeen tomorrow.”
One thing Van Bronckhorst could do to get the punters back on side is to give them a long-awaited look at Aaron Ramsey.
The on-loan Juventus ace has registered just 94 minutes of action since arriving on deadline day but is set to return against Aberdeen along with Ryan Jack and Filip Helander.
But van Bronckhorst defended his use of his squad after being stung by criticism of his decision to start and finish with the same eleven players during their midweek win in Perth.
He said: “It differs which games you play. Of course, you look how the game is going but I don’t care about how many substitutions I make, I care about the three points.
“That was only on my mind on the game on Wednesday.
“Of course, people will talk about no substitutions but it doesn’t bother me. I just want to get the three points and take each game by game.”
Meanwhile, Rangers have warned fans against running on to the pitch with the club facing a UEFA sanction after young fans hurdled their way past stewards at the end of last week’s Borussia Dortmund triumph.
The champions said in a statement: "Rangers would like to remind fans that entering the field of play at any time is unacceptable and forbidden.
"The club have now been informed by UEFA that they have opened disciplinary proceedings after Thursday’s game v Borussia Dortmund due to children entering the pitch area.
"We have a zero-tolerance approach to those invading the pitch. In particular, any parent found to assist their child in entering the pitch area will be subject to club disciplinary policy.
"Our players have been advised that should not provide a shirt to any spectator entering the pitch area."
