Rangers boss Michael Beale has blasted back at claims he showed disrespect to Celtic by referring to them as ‘the other team’ during a press conference last week and insisted: “That’s not what I am.”
Former Hoops striker and radio pundit Andy Walker claimed the new Ibrox gaffer was disrespectful by not naming Celtic in his pre-match media conference ahead of his first game in charge against Aberdeen. But Beale wanted to set the record straight ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Aberdeen.
He said: “The other day I used a term ‘other team’. I’m new back into the country but I didn’t get where I am being disrespectful to anybody. I was asked a question about being nine points behind and my answer was ‘well, we have to win and the other team has to lose some’. That wasn’t in any way disrespectful. I want to cut that short.
“I’ve got no issue with naming the other team’s name - Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibs, whoever - and no way am I ever going to be disrespectful. I don’t like that. It’s not what I am. It was a very innocent comment that was taken too far. I’m a coach that respects. I came back to this league because I enjoy it."
Connor Goldson is back for Rangers ahead of their tricky trip to Aberdeen but Steven Davis is out of the Pittodrie clash due to injury along with Antonio Colak. And Beale revealed will have Borna Barisic available again for the clash with Motherwell on December 28 following his World Cup exploits with Croatia while Ianis Hagi’s return has been pencilled in for the start of February at the latest.
Beale takes his Light Blues side to the north east for his second competitive game in charge after setting a larger of winning all 22 of their remaining league games to have any chance of overhauling Celtic’s nine-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit.
The former QPR boss has at least been boosted by the return of Goldson and fellow central defender Leon King having been forced to field a makeshift pairing in the heart of the rearguard for his first game against Hibs with James Sands and John Lundstrum lining up.
Goldson has been out since he limped out of the Champions League mauling at the hands of Liverpool back in October but Beale said: “Connor Goldson will come back into the squad.
Connor is a strong voice. He was all you could hear in the games behind closed doors! When you have a player so consistent it rocks the squad when they are missing.
“Everyone is aware of the defenders we have been missing in recent weeks. I am happy to say I will have centre backs in the team.
“Borna is back in Croatia and we hope to have him back for the Motherwell game. Steven Davis is away for a scan, he is the only fresh injury. Antonio Colak is not available, he will be on Friday.
“Ianis Hagi will play a big rile in our team when fit. I have a lot of belief in him. He is in light training at the moment after a year out. We are delighted to see him return and it’s important we don’t rush him. We hope to have him back available at the end of January/start of February.”
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