A number of Rangers fans have been reacting to an article written by The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell, with a link to the piece shared on his Twitter channel @JordanC1107.
Rangers haven’t looked right since returning from the winter break.
Gerrard ruled out fitness as a reason for their struggles but I spoke to a fitness expert who thinks it could be a mental issue.
Also talks Dubai as a destination & calf injuries.https://t.co/9eRz8JXmuG
— Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) February 3, 2020
Steven Gerrard insisted after Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Aberdeen that fitness was not a factor in the team winning only one of their last three league games (following five consecutive league wins beforehand) to drop seven points behind the league leaders. However, Campbell subsequently interviewed a fitness expert who believes that mental fatigue could be an issue in the Rangers squad. The January training camp in Dubai and calf injuries to Ryan Jack and Jermain Defoe were also cited as possible contributing factors to recent poor results.
The Light Blues’ cause has not been helped by such injuries, with James Tavernier also sidelined of late after undergoing surgery on an appendix problem, while the ‘Gers have played 42 matches already this season, with nine players clocking more than 2,500 minutes of football since July. However, Premiership title rivals Celtic also went to Dubai during the mid-season break and have subsequently won all four of their league matches.
These Rangers fans on Twitter gave their take on the fitness expert’s reasons for the team’s downturn in form, with some not convinced that the Dubai trip was a problem:
Delicate little flowers flying off to Dubai for some light football all tired with a 6 hour lie down each way. Of course it is mental and the way they were mentally prepared and organised by their coaches.
— Ian Hainey (@Ian_Hainey) February 3, 2020
A fitness expert who thinks it could be a mental issue 🤔
— Scotty (@Dotsy1978) February 3, 2020
Surley dubai as a destination can be ruled out as celtic also went there and have came back on fire
— Daz84 (@_daz84) February 3, 2020
All this talk about Dubai was the problem I’m not buying. Celtic went there also & haven’t started as bad as we have.
— Dave (@Nimsay1872) February 3, 2020
I don’t think it’s just one thing, Best players missing, confidence from missing chances, luck. I made the point about the change of surface from hard/dry to soft across here being a potential cause for calf injuries but could also be independent issues when you analyse players.
— Gavin Kelly (@gmkelly1979) February 3, 2020
I do wonder if Gerrard’s demand (two years running) that the players ‘empty the tank’ in the last game before the break has anything to do with it, I’m not really sure that’s something you can build back up over a couple of weeks in Dubai.
— DC (@stramashes) February 3, 2020
What do you think have been the main factors in Rangers losing ground in the title race since the mid-season break? Join in the discussion by commenting below!
