Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has claimed that Tuesday’s match against Patrick Thistle is more important than the club’s first Old Firm showdown of the season.
The Light Blues head to Firhill on Tuesday to face Partick Thistle for the second time in just a few days as the clubs prepare to battle in the Scottish League Cup quarter final.
Pedro Caixinha’s side are then set to host rivals Celtic on Saturday in their first Old Firm meeting of the campaign in the Premiership, but the 25-year-old has revealed that the club is focusing purely on moving into the semi-final of the League Cup.
Speaking ahead of their midweek fixture, Jack said: “All our focus is on tomorrow night and it is a quarter-final. There isn’t a bigger game this week than getting this club to a semi-final.”
The club shared Jack’s thoughts on their official Twitter account on Monday afternoon.
RJ: All our focus is on tomorrow night and it is a quarter-final. There isn't a bigger game this week than getting this club to a semi-final
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) September 18, 2017
The midfielder was one of eight new recruits Caixinha signed during his first transfer window with the club.
He moved from Aberdeen in a three-year-deal and has since featured in eight appearances across all competitions for the Light Blues.
OPINION
Saying that the Scottish League Cup quarter final is more important than the club’s Old Firm meeting is incredibly brave from Ryan Jack – and also a bit bizarre. While Rangers would love to make the semi-final of the cup, no one actually believes the game against Partick is bigger than the first Old Firm derby of the season. However, he’s obviously done it to try and ease the pressure on what’s promising to be an absolute firecracker of an Old Firm derby. In Scotland nothing is bigger than the Old Firm derby and there’s extra frisson on this fixture. It’s the first time they’ve met in the Premiership since the 5-1 hammering back in April at Ibrox, and the first since Pedro Caixinha spent almost £9million overhauling his squad. If his Rangers team take another hammering, it will be a disaster for Rangers.