Barry Ferguson has told his Rangers players to prepare for "horrible" summers if Celtic wrap up a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title this weekend — insisting the pain of watching their fiercest rivals succeed must fuel a proper challenge for league bragging rights next season.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are 15 points clear with five games remaining and need just a draw at Tannadice on Saturday to officially secure the top-flight crown against Dundee United.
And interim Ibrox boss Ferguson didn’t mince his words when asked how it would feel to see the title confirmed this early.
“Well, it would be painful for me, it would be painful for my staff, it would be painful for the supporters,” he said. “And I want it to be painful for my players, because you're at Rangers and we need to start challenging — properly challenging — for trophies.”
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Ferguson, a former club captain, knows exactly what it's like to endure the sting of second best.
Reflecting on his own playing days, he admitted that the sight of Celtic lifting silverware was enough to make the close season an ordeal.
“Horrible summers,” the 47-year-old admitted. “I was ready to come back in and work my backside off to make sure that didn't happen again.
"It's sore when you see your fiercest rivals win trophies, you don't like to see that. It should make you even more determined — and hopefully that’s going to be the case next season."
