Warburton: This is how I want to be judged by Rangers fans this season
By Emma Sanders
Mark Warburton has claimed he wants to be judged on where Rangers finish at the end of the season and not how they compare in points to Celtic.
The Rangers boss is aware of the necessary comparisons but insists his side will have had a good season if they finish second in the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic are already 16 points ahead in the league table and look set to lift the title at the end of the season so Warburton hopes by securing second place, it will confirm a positive campaign.
Warburton also admitted the target was to be competitive this season and he hopes their league position in May will demonstrate they have been able to achieve that.
“It has to be where we finish. I understand [the comparisons to Celtic] and please don’t think for one second I’m understating it,” said Warburton, as reported by the Daily Record.
“We spoke about being highly competitive and learning and gelling as a team over the course of the season. So if we do that and grab second spot, will we have had a good season?”
The Gers boss spoke ahead of the Old Firm derby on New Year’s Eve, a game which many are expecting Celtic to win despite Rangers producing better performances in recent weeks.
Celtic remain unbeaten in domestic competition throughout 2016-17 and they have already beaten Rangers on two occasions this season, including a 5-1 thrashing in September.
The Hoops also knocked Rangers out of the semi-final of the Betfred Cup and they could extend their lead at the top of the table by 19 points with victory on Saturday.
Rangers go into the clash on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against St Johnstone while Celtic hope to build on a comfortable 2-0 win against Ross County.
In other Rangers news, the club are plotting a move for this England star.