---
title: "Rangers: Pedro Caixinha makes Carlos Pena admission"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-carlos-pena-pedro-caixinha/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-07-18T11:05:28Z"
modified: "2021-07-18T11:05:28Z"
---

# Rangers: Pedro Caixinha makes Carlos Pena admission

**Former Glasgow Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha has revealed that both he and the club were aware of Carlos Pena’s drinking problem when he arrived at Ibrox.**

### **The Lowdown: Pena’s short spell at Ibrox**

Pena made the move to Ibrox from Club Leon in 2017 for a fee of £2.2m ([The Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6669689/Rangers-terminate-contract-Carlos-Pena-just-18-months-signing-2-2m.html)) after impressing in his home country of Mexico.

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However, the now-31-year-old managed just 14 matches in all competitions – although he did score five goals ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/carlos-pena/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/147266)) – before his drinking issues became too much of a problem. The Gers duly [cancelled his contract](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6669689/Rangers-terminate-contract-Carlos-Pena-just-18-months-signing-2-2m.html) 18 months after his arrival in Glasgow.

### **The Latest: Caixinha makes admission**

Speaking to [The Rangers Review](https://twitter.com/RangersReview55/status/1416053454183731213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1416053454183731213%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rangersnews.uk%2Fnews%2Frangers-signed-2-2m-carlos-pena-in-full-knowledge-of-ongoing-issues%2F), Caixinha has admitted that he was aware of Pena’s problems. The former Gers manager said:

> *“When I arrived in Mexico (between 2012 and 2014), Carlos was the most incredible midfielder.*
>
> *“He was really, really incredible. Goalscorer, up and down, defending, attacking, he was really incredible. Massive player, a lot of technique, a lot of physicality.*
>
> *“After that, he passed through some problems and he could not deal with what he achieved.*
>
> *“He passed at one stage he was having drinking problems, it was totally known.*
>
> *“And when we contacted the previous teams and previous coaches in Mexico, they told me he still had a little bit of the problem but he’s much better.*
>
> *“And he’s much better with a will to change.*
>
> *“I’m not going to lie to you, he didn’t arrive totally clean. But we clean him up.*
>
> *“If you remember one of the last games we played against St Johnstone – which we win 3-0 and he scored twice – that was the Carlos.”*

### **The Verdict: Risk which didn’t pay off**

You must appreciate Caixinha’s honesty. He himself had a terrible spell at Rangers, lasting less than a year as he became the shortest-serving permanent manager in the club’s history, being associated with a 5-1 home drubbing by Celtic and the ignominious Europa League qualifying exit to Progres Niederkorn ([BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41762385)).

Clearly, in regards to Pena, he took a risk which just didn’t pay off – the decision was perhaps emblematic of his time in Scotland.

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With those five goals, Pena did show glimpses of his capabilities. However, in the long run, less than total dedication to his craft was always going to be a major obstacle. In the end, it is probably a time all involved with the Gers would rather wish to forget.

***In other news, [many Rangers fans were fuming over this club tweet.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-arsenal-pre-season-premiership/)***