Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes that Rangers are on the “brink of another embarrassment” as they prepare to take on Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season on Saturday.
In his column in the Express, Nicholas said that Celtic’s attacking options – with Leigh Griffiths, Scott Sinclair and Moussa Dembele – will pose Rangers serious problems.
And he added that if Caixinha plays a back four, that Celtic will win “by a couple of goals”.
“The big issue for me remains Pedro’s defence,” Nicholas said.
“Rangers have no pace at the back and if you don’t have that then you have to try to be secure.
“For that they have to go to a back three or a back five.
“If Rangers play with a back four then Celtic will beat them because Rangers won’t be safe or secure.
“I refuse to indulge in this rubbish that Rangers have to attack because they are at home. No, they don’t. Rangers fans are on the brink of another embarrassment – they have had it already in recent Old Firm games.”
OPINION
All Old Firm derby games are big, but this is the first of the new season – and the first for Caixinha with his new-look Rangers squad. Caixinha has spent a lot of money over the summer creating the new Rangers team in his image and he’ll be desperate to get something out of the game. The last time the two sides met in the Premiership, Rangers were humbled 5-1 by a rampant Celtic side. Celtic went the whole of last season unbeaten in domestic competitions and they’ve picked up where they left off this season. If Caixinha can get a result he’ll be a hero at the Ibrox but Charlie Nicholas has a good point. Playing a 4-4-2 is bold but it could backfire spectacularly and that’s the last thing Caixinha or Rangers need. A more defensive line-up could be the way to go on Saturday lunchtime. A draw would have to be considered a good result for Rangers.