Pedro’s paid price of gulf with Hoops
CRAIG LEVEIN has offered his sympathy to Pedro Caixinha and reckons a price has been paid because Rangers are so far off the pace set by Celtic.
The Portuguese was sacked yesterday after just seven months in the job and following a string of embarrassing results during his ill-fated spell in the Ibrox hotseat.
Rangers will be managerless for the trip to Murrayfield tomorrow after the Light Blues board lost patience with Caixinha’s project.
Levein took in Caixinha’s last stand, a controversial 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock when they threw away their lead in injury time.
However, speaking before his rival’s departure was confirmed, Levein confessed Rangers are suffering from playing second fiddle to Celtic after their financial collapse five years ago.
Levein said: “It’s difficult. There’s a big focus on Rangers because they are not doing as well as Celtic.
“There is a continual comparison but I don’t think Rangers are at the level of Celtic just now and I don’t think anybody else in Scottish football would disagree with that.
“That’s not Pedro’s fault. It’s more about the clubs. Celtic are stable, they are well financed. Rangers have had turmoil, they’ve been up through the divisions.”
Gers had Ryan Jack sent off against Killie, Graham Dorrans limped off and Bruno Alves is out of the game in Edinburgh after failing in his appeal against a retrospective red card for lashing out at Louis Moult.
Fabio Cardoso is also nursing a broken nose but Levein is still without key players Arnaud Djoum, Don Cowie and Aaron Hughes as he looks to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to Hibs.
Levein said: “I watched the Rangers game but left just before the end and listened to it on the radio. It was bizarre, a weird game. Rangers could have had the game dead and buried.
“A couple of things went against them but I still thought they were going to win. Steve Clarke had Killie in a 4-4-2 but compact with the strikers dropping back in and things didn’t go for Rangers
“But we’ve also got our own problems and I’ve got a midfield dilemma. Then again, maybe I don’t because I just play the midfielders we have available.
“We won’t be at our best and I would say the same about Rangers.
“Both of us are going into the game not being able to field our best team. It’s difficult but it’s a situation you face very often as a coach.”