Pedro Mendes has cited words from Jose Mourinho and claimed a Rangers win could have a 'big influence' on the rest of the season.
It's an Old Firm battle at Hampden this afternoon as Michael Beale and Ange Postecoglou go head to head for the League Cup. The new Light Blues boss is undefeated since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst while the Hoops are also on an extended run without a loss. That has meant the Ibrox men have been unable to claw back any of the nine point difference between the two in the Premiership standings.
However, something will need to give at the national stadium with the first domestic trophy on offer up for grabs and with that derby bragging rights. The two previous meetings this season have ended in a big 4-0 win for Celtic and a 2-2 draw last time out in Govan. Former Rangers midfielder Mendes believes the massive boost to morale winning at Hampden could bring for the final months of the season could play a major role but at the same time warned defeat and things could go the opposite way. But his message to his ex-club is clear with a final about winning and not to play well.
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He told Grosvenor Sport: "What Jose Mourinho used to always say was, a final is not to play well, it’s to win. That’s exactly what Rangers must do. They don’t have to play nice football, they just have to win.
"I really think it would be a big boost for them and it could have a big influence on the rest of the season.
"There is more than a cup at stake here. You can imagine what it would do to morale. Rangers would have a massive boost for the three months left in the season.
"However, if they lose I think it could go the opposite way."
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