Vaclav Cerny insists Rangers are about to click into gear as he vowed to chase a statement Euro win over Olympiacos in Greece.
The Ibrox winger was man of the match as the Ibrox side fought back to beat Motherwell in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi final. It had looked ominous for under-fire Philippe Clement and his players as they were booed off by fed-up supporters as they trailed 1-0 at half-time. Rangers are nine points adrift of Celtic and Aberdeen in the Premiership and Clement has been slammed for his side’s lack of style.
But Cerny said: “Don’t forget it’s a team and a squad that’s only been together a short period of time with a lot of new players. You see moments where it looks really good and we work every single day on details. It’s going to pay off. It’s time for us to realise just how good we can be.”
Rangers head to Greece having won two and lost one of their opening three Europa League games. Olympiacos sit second in the Greek Super League. But Cerny said: “That has to be the mindset we have – we go there to win.”
With two penetrating passes Cerny sliced open Motherwell’s defence as Rangers finally cut down the Steelmen at Hampden on Sunday. Now the Czech winger is urging his team mates to sharpen up their own game. His absence at Pittodrie last week was sorely felt by Clement as Aberdeen became the latest side to stick the knife in the beleaguered Belgian.
Five goals in his last five games and those two crucial assists against Well show the on-loan Wolfsburg wide man is bucking the trend for Clement’s underperforming side. The 27-year-old said: “That’s my job, I want to create things, bring ideas in the final third and I’m trying to be the person to create chances for the team and also for myself. Just to be in those positions is very important for me. I’m glad for the past few games it’s going well.
“I feel good, fit and that for me is the major thing. That I feel healthy and can go every three days. Once I get the flow I just want to keep it and do everything I can to keep it. Missing Aberdeen was tough. But it was a good decision. I’ve been playing so many games for the past two months and my legs felt it.
“It was a decision which was made and I think health wise it was a good decision. It was tough for me not being there with the guys. I know how important that game was. I’m all good. All fit and can’t wait to be there for Olympiacos.”
Cerny is one of 11 summer signings who have found themselves entangled in a bitter start to the season at Ibrox. Three league defeats to Celtic, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen have piled the pressure on Clement while the lack of style on the park has added to the weight of criticism raining down from the stands.
The boos that greeted the half-time whistle on Sunday might just have been audible on the other side of Glasgow. But Cerny led the second half fightback with his run and pass into Connor Barron for Cyriel Dessers’ equaliser before executing a perfect cross field delivery for Nedim Bajrami’s 81st minute winner.
And he has urged fans to keep the faith. He said: “It’s important. The fans see when we do the right things and when we play our football then you feel it back from them. We just want to build the consistency in games and have a good run of games to build confidence for all of us.”
The detail of what was said during Rangers’ half-time inquest on Sunday will remain deep down inside the Hampden dressing room. But Cerny is adamant that no-holds-barred debate which sparked the fightback is proof there is character in Clement’s side.
Lacking leaders is another accusation that’s been flung at a team which even Clement admitted looked nervous at the interval as he faced his own 45 minutes of reckoning.
Skipper James Tavernier and goalkeeper Jack Butland were seen having a heated debate on the park immediately after Andy Halliday fired Well ahead in the first half. Tavernier was hooked by Clement midway through the second half. And Cerny insists while things might have looked like they were unravelling, nothing could have been further from the truth.
He said: “It’s very important to say a few things to each other, stick together and get out in the second half and show how good we can be. Even with things not going exactly like we would want them to go, we showed good faith in the second half.
“It’s not important who says them – it’s what is said that’s important and that we do them. Those things have to stay in the dressing room. The most important thing is the faith we showed.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game the semi final. It’s a one-off game. We showed character in the second half and quality as well. We’re delighted to get through to the final and especially the way we did it.”