Vaclav Cerny insists Rangers boss Philippe Clement got squad rotation right as winger declares he WAS tired
Vaclav Cerny admits he was running on empty before Fir Park – but he’ll be back at full pelt against Celtic.
Rangers fans were left fuming after the attacker was left on the bench for the must-win Motherwell clash with boss Philippe Clement insisting the winger needed a break. Cerny ended up playing almost an hour in the attempted rescue mission as Gers scraped a draw that has left the Light Blues a mammoth 14 points behind Celtic going into today’s Old Firm showdown at Ibrox. Clement has taken severe flak for the decision but Cerny admitted he WAS tired – and his boss made the right call.
He said: “There have been so many games. So we had a chat, not only with the manager, but with people around who take care of us. I was okay, but I just said it because I was getting tired. I think it’s pretty normal at this stage of the season.
“I’ve never seen a player with this schedule who plays in every single game. You guys are watching football all over Europe.
“It’s just normal. I’ve never seen one player who played everything, and I think we make it much bigger than it is. I’ve played every game for the national team.
“I’ve played every game for Rangers I was able to play. And we have a strong squad. It’s normal to rotate.
“And it’s just the way it is. Look, I want to play every game, but sometimes, as I said, it’s just not possible. There is a huge game coming up and I’m feeling much better. And in the end, that was the point. I’m feeling good.”
Gers fans struggled to understand why arguably the best player in the side was left out for such a crucial clash – with the Light Blues desperately needing maximum points on the back of defeat at St Mirren.
But Cerny said: “I appreciate that. That’s what I wanted to create.I want people to think that I’m someone who can help this team every single game.
“That’s what I’m trying to do also. But the other part I want to say is that we have a strong squad. I’ve played around 35 games.
“Don’t get me wrong, maybe it’s 34 or 33, I don’t know! There are other players who are coming back from injuries and need minutes. I’m also not the coach.
“I was asked, and I said I was feeling a bit tired. It’s pretty normal to still be able to go with the team and be able to help if possible.
“But there is a choice to be made about not starting me and that’s it. It’s a mix of everything. When we come in every single morning we get questions about how we feel.
“Some of us play a lot, some of us play less. So every single day you talk about your programme, what you’re going to do.
“It’s just those little conversations you have. It’s just so normal not to start one of the 30 games. It shouldn’t even be a question.”
Cerny will be back in the starting line up today but Clement is facing an defensive injury crisis. Leon Balogun will be given until the last minute after limping off against Saints on Boxing Day – but skipper James Tavernier is out and facing a fight to be fit for the Europa League clash with Manchester United on January 23.
Clement will need to patch up his backline but Cerny insisted Rangers can finally get one over their fierce foes – despite the squad damage. And he will use the Hampden heartache against the Hoops last month as fuel.
Cerny – who was denied a controversial penalty claim in the shootout defeat – said: “Yes, of course. But this is a new game. It’s a league game. It’s a home game.
“We can use it as motivation. But in the end, it starts from 0-0 again. We just want to be ready.”
