Pedro Caixinha responds to reported spat with Rangers player
By James Black
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has insisted he has no issue with Kenny Miller after the veteran striker was reportedly banished to the Gers’ Under-20 squad.
Miller was nowhere to be seen on Friday night as the Light Blues strolled to a 4-1 win over Hamilton after goals from Daniel Candeias, Graham Dorrans and a double from Declan John.
Reports have suggested Miller was responsible for leaking details of a post-Old Firm debrief to the Daily Record which resulted in a hatchet job on Caixinha claiming he had singled-out the Scottish players in the squad – with Miller and Graham Dorrans, in particular, the target of the manager’s wrath.
Miller’s Ibrox future now seems uncertain and Caixinha refused to confirm if the 37-year-old would be part of the travelling party when the Gers travel to Canada to face Benfica in the Eusebio Cup in Hamilton, Ontario.
Caixinha was unwilling to go into details over why Miller was missing at the SuperSeal stadium but re-iterated he had no issue with the striker.
“No, nothing,” Caixinha said after Friday’s match, as quoted by The Herald website, when asked if there was any problem between him and Miller.
“One of the tasks I have as a manager is to pick the team, pick the squad.
“I took the decision not to pick him for the match.
“Why should I have any issue with him?
“Look, I think it’s totally disrespectful to keep asking about Kenny Miller.
“The 20 boys who were here tonight were fantastic.
“We are here to talk about this match.
“Kenny was not here because I did not pick him.”
Miller has enjoyed three spells at Ibrox as a player and has been involved in coaching the Under-20 squad in recent months as he works towards completing his coaching badges.
The veteran forward has made 250 appearances for the Gers, scoring 100 times, and has won three Scottish titles.
Miller is only the second player to have crossed the Old Firm divide twice – after Tom Dunbar – playing for Celtic between 2006 and 2008.
In other Rangers news, Charlie Nicholas believes that Caixinha will be axed by the Gers.
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