MARK Warburton last night expressed astonishment that his position as manager at Rangers had been called into question after just three Ladbrokes Premiership games this season.
He also rubbished suggestions the Ibrox club’s chances of winning the Scottish title will be over if they lose to Celtic in the first Old Firm game of the new season at Parkhead tomorrow.
The Championship winners have endured a difficult start to the 2016/17 campaign – they have drawn against Hamilton at home and Kilmarnock away in their opening four league games.
That has put them a point behind their city rivals Celtic, who still have a game in hand due to being involved in the International Champions Cup, and increased the scrutiny of and pressure on Warburton.
However, the Englishman, who strengthened his squad with no fewer than 11 new players this summer, has been taken aback at the reaction to Rangers’ performances and the criticism which has been directed towards him.
Read more: Gordon Smith: Joey Barton under pressure to perform after comments about Celtic
He is confident his team, who won the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic on penalties last season, will be able to compete in the East End tomorrow if they play to the best of their abilities.
“We are four games in, have 11 new players in and you have got to gel them in,” said Warburton. “We have got players who have come from different formations, different systems, different ball possession. We are four games in.
“I was asked if my position was tenable after three games in. Wow. Wow. You look at it and go ‘really?’ I won’t name the individual. You just look at people and go ‘really?’
“The other one was that if we lose on Saturday, that is it, the season is over. If you lose at Celtic, the season is over. But that is the nature of it. You can say that Scottish football is impatient. Scottish football needs to have some common sense as well if that is the case.”
Joey Barton, the former Newcastle United, Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers midfielder, was the biggest name to arrive at Rangers during the close season, but he has been disappointing so far.
The fact the outspoken 34-year-old has publicly criticised Scott Brown and Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic captain and manager, and declared he will be the best player in Scotland this season will ensure he receives a hostile reception at Parkhead.
However, Warburton has no fears about the controversial figure being able to handle the intense atmosphere generated by a sell-out crowd of around 60,000 tomorrow and the abuse that will be directed at him.
‘It’s not about Joey,” he said. “I don’t think Joey will be alone in that (getting abuse)! Will Joey be able to cope? Absolutely. He will more than cope with it. As will all the players. Niko Kranjcar has played in some huge derbies, Split and Zagreb. These are feisty encounters.
"There is no problem. These guys are looking forward to the game. Would you rather play in front of 4,000 of an afternoon or in front of more than 50,000 at Parkhead or Ibrox? These are the games you want to be involved in as a player.”
He also stressed that the eagerly-anticipated Brown v Barton showdown in central midfield wouldn't decide the outcome of the contest.
"Everyone is always asking about Joey Barton," he said. "They should be asking about Niko, about Josh Windass, about Andy Halliday.
‘There are 18 players in both squads. I understand why it happens because it sells papers and there are radio shows. But there is a lot more to it than Barton and Brown."
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