Former Rangers defender Craig Moore has voiced deep concerns over the mentality of the current squad, suggesting every player needs their own sports psychologist following their lacklustre performance in Barry Ferguson’s first home match in charge.
Ferguson, who stepped in as interim manager after Philippe Clement’s dismissal last week, saw his side fall to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday.
The lack of response from the players in such a crucial moment alarmed Moore, who did not hold back in his assessment of the Rangers squad’s mental fragility.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Moore said: “You know what? I shake my head and think, what is the problem? This is a team that, yeah okay, they never started well against Kilmarnock but they come and finish the game really strongly.
“Then you’re thinking a home match, Barry Ferguson’s first game, the stadium is going to be bouncing. The atmosphere was great before the game but from the first minute it was flat. The performance had no energy.
Read more:
- Rangers fans forced to rethink Istanbul plans after pre-match change
- Rangers takeover by 49ers Enterprises 'agreed in principle
“This group of players at the moment are that far off it, in my opinion, some are never going to get to the level that I think is required to move forward at the football club.
“The confidence is extremely low. Sport psychology, I know it’s big in the game now, and I feel as if every single player needs his own sports psychologist. They seem that low.”
He continued: “Whether it be at home to Motherwell or away to Motherwell, these are the matches that make or break you as a Rangers player.
“It’s not easy don’t take this the wrong way, but to get up for European matches there’s a natural lift that you get.
“The games against Celtic, these games tend to take care of themselves. But it’s the other games where the drop off in performance on everything like the basics is alarming.”
Read more:
- 'I never seen it coming': Shellshocked Ferguson blasts Rangers flops
- Ferguson slams Rangers, warns of heavy defeats vs Fenerbahce & Celtic
Moore was also struck by Ferguson’s post-match reaction, admitting he was shocked by the team’s lack of intensity.
He went on to say: “I heard Barry’s interview after the game and all that, and he said he didn’t even see this coming. I know he had only been in four or five days, but this is a group of players that continually let people down.
“The supporters will deserve at least the energy and the good basics. You can win or lose a game, but it’s how you win or lose a game for me which is really important. And that consistency has been nowhere near good enough.”
With Ferguson tasked with steadying the ship until the end of the season, Rangers will need a drastic change in mentality if they are to salvage any positives from the campaign.
They face a Europa League Round of 16 double header against Fenerbahce before an eye-watering derby clash against Celtic in the league.
Their Glasgow rivals are only three wins away from lifting the Scottish Premiership title for a fourth year in a row.
