Barry Ferguson tells Rangers flops what 'better change' as interim boss makes stern Celtic demand

Daily Record

02-05-2025

Ferguson could not hide his fury at last weekend's 2-2 draw with St Mirren in Paisley
Barry Ferguson has warned his ropey Rangers squad they better start listening to his instructions.
The furious Ibrox caretaker was driven potty in Paisley last weekend as he accused his team of failing to do what they were told in the 2-2 draw with St Mirren.
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Now as he side prepare for Sunday's final Old Firm showdown, the former skipper says he expects them to tune in to what he has to say - or else. Ferguson said: 'Well, there was a lot of frustration for a number of reasons, because I wasn't happy with the way the game went.
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'But we've had a full week, we've spent a bit of time going through certain scenarios that I wasn't happy with. We've still got another day to go but they're clear on what I wasn't happy with. That needs to improve and I expect a big improvement on Sunday.
'It better change, and it has to change. That's something, again, we spoke about as a group, that's something that I wasn't happy with. We've been through a lot this week and I expect them to take the information on.'
Ferguson's older brother Derek raised eyebrows this week when he offered his thoughts on Rangers' Saints statement, with the ex-Ibrox midfielder accusing the Ibrox squad of showing their manager a 'lack of respect' by not following his tactical plan.
But Barry did his best to shrug off the controversy as he said: 'Listen, everybody's got different opinions and it's something that I don't really read into.
'Whether it's my brother, whether it's somebody else, everybody's entitled to their opinions. I'll keep my feelings in the house and I think that's the best way to do it. The players understand the reasons why I wasn't happy after the game.
"It's not my place to agree or disagree with people's opinions. I've got one thing in my mind - that we better make sure we have a better performance against Celtic. '
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The final derby scrap of the campaign doesn't have much more meaning other than bragging rights after Celtic wrapped up their fourth successive league crown last weekend.
Gers have won the last two Old Firm head-to-heads and the interim gaffer is right up for the fight again. Ferguson said: 'It means a lot to me. I've said that, it needs to mean a lot to everybody inside the building.
'It's been a really disappointing season, but it's not a dead rubber. You are coming up against the fiercest rivals who again have dominated this season, and that hurts.
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'So we need to go up against them and just let them, or give them a reminder that listen, we're going to be here next season. We need to challenge, certainly in a better manner than what we have done this season.
'I couldn't care less about the performance. I just want to get three points. It's a bonus for me if you play well in the games. I tend to not look at what happened in the past. The win at Celtic Park was a number of weeks ago and I'll expect the same level, if not better, on Sunday.
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'I know a lot of people want to see free-flowing, attractive football and I totally get that, but it's all about winning games of football. It's clear that we've won enough this season and it's something that we need to get better at going forward. Not just this season, but next season and the following season after that.'
Asked if he felt these derby showdowns mattered as much to the players as it did to him, Ferguson said: 'Well I've got the feeling this week because we've sat and we've stood out on the training ground and spoke about it.
'So the reaction that I've had in training has been really good, but it matters when you cross that right line. That's what matters. So the proof will be in the pudding I guess come lunchtime on Sunday.'
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Ferguson - who could welcome masked defender Leon Balogun back from the broken cheekbone he suffered in the Europa League defeat to Athletic Bilbao - has ruled out handing Brendan Rodgers' newly crowned kings of Scotland a guard of honour.
"I don't know why there's always a big clamour about a guard of honour, it's never happened in the past, whether it's Celtic, whether it's Rangers,' he said. I think it'll always just remain that way.
'Celtic are champions for a reason, because they've been the most consistent throughout the season. But in terms of a guard of honour I don't see it.
'It's never happened in the past. So why should it happen going forward?'