One glance at the Premiership table would tell Rangers they’re four points better off than they were at the same stage last season. But Antonio Colak insists nobody at Ibrox is paying the standings any attention right now.
Not when a run of 12 games in which they’ve taken 34 points from 36 STILL hasn’t been enough to chip away at Celtic’s nine-point lead. A year ago a 67-point haul after 27 games would have had Rangers one ahead of their arch rivals at the top of the table. But the year-on-year points progress counts for nothing when their title hopes are as good as done.
Rangers head to Easter Road this evening to take on Hibs for the first time since Michael Beale’s dug out return that also marked the start of that impressive run of form which has brought victories in volatile venues including Pittodrie and Tynecastle. The momentum may have been stalled by last month’s League Cup Final defeat to Celtic.
But league form remains strong and Colak knows it’s crucial to maintain that just in case there is any slip up on the other side of the city. It’s also important to maintain levels with a Scottish Cup quarter final against Raith Rovers following on four days after tonight’s trip to Leith.
When it was put to the 29-year-old that winning week after week without any impact on Celtic’s lead must be frustrating he said: “We are not looking at the table right now, we are just focusing on our game as that’s the most important thing.
“We had a really good run until the cup final where we won a lot of games. Now after losing we want to go on another run and keep it going by winning a lot of games. Everything is in our hands if we are winning games.
“So we want to collect as many points as we can and play good football. I mean, it is not only about this game, for me every game is the same.
“In everything and in every game you have to show mentality and character. It doesn’t matter if you are playing Raith Rovers in the cup, or are playing in the league, this has to be the demand when you play for Rangers. Games are no different for me.”
Colak is on 15 goals for the season but has only scored once since October having played second fiddle in the striking stakes to Alfredo Morelos since returning from injury. Morelos’ contribution outside the box has been preferred to the penalty box predatory instincts of Colak.
Other than the Scottish Cup win over Partick Thistle, in which he netted the opener, Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock was the 29-year-old’s first start in two months. Should he get the nod in Leith this evening Colak insists he’ll bust a gut to make the difference.
But he’ll never take a starting place for granted. He said: “I always look day-by-day and Wednesday is a new game where I can be on the scoresheet so I have to work hard for that.
“I hope I can be back but I would never go ‘okay, now I score against Hibs so it’s all good’. I just try to play, no matter what game it is, to play with the same thoughts and the will to win, and hope to score.
“It is not easy sometimes if you come in for 10 minutes. Also the speed of the game can change so you can sometimes show more, and sometimes show less.
“If you are playing for a longer time, as I did in the league on Saturday and in the cup against Partick Thistle when I scored, it means a lot for me.
“Every game is different but I try to always perform to my best level. I am back so I hope I can now collect as many games as I can to show that in every game I perform.”
He might not have been on the scoresheet against Killie but Colak’s unselfish lay off teed up Fashio Sakala for Rangers’ second goal. The German-born frontman insists an assist is every bit as important as bulging the net himself as he changes up his game in a bid to snatch back the number nine slot.
He said: “Of course. This is really enjoyable for myself. I mean the best feeling is to score, for sure, but it is also really enjoyable to assist for my team-mates. To have this influence in a game is really important.”
Colak added: “With new ideas from the gaffer, you adapt to every game and every situation. I want to be the best version of myself and perform at my best level, I want to run hard and add assists in addition to scoring.
“The gaffer expects every player to give everything on the pitch, the best version of yourself in every training session - this is also what I demand of myself.
“I think I can get back to scoring goals with my quality. We know we still have to work hard, it is not enough only to have a good first-half - the gaffer demands we perform for 90 minutes."
READ NEXT:
