Walter Smith's Co-Operative Cup concern
Smith’s team face PSV at Ibrox on March 17 then meet Celtic in the final of the Co-Operative Cup at Hampden three days later.
Rangers have a backlog of four SPL games still to be scheduled with Smith acknowledging that it is a difficult task to put together those fixtures ahead of the split.
“I stress that I’m not being critical of the league,” he explained. “As an SPL manager we all met with the league and Iain Blair was at pains to explain to us all how difficult it is to fit in fixtures.
“But you have to ask yourself, if you are having a showcase Cup Final – and you put it in the same week as a European game – are you not expecting at least one of your two best teams, Rangers or Celtic, to be involved?
“It’s obviously not the ideal situation to be involved in but we are and the fixtures have been out there all season.”
Smith’s problem with the timing of the Co-Operative Cup final with Celtic is difficult to work out.
The extra round involved in the Europa League compared to the Champions League, and the scheduling of the Scottish Cup, ensures that the final of the Co-Operative Cup is played either before or after a Europa Cup tie.
In season 2002/03 Celtic found themselves in an even tougher position when they reached the final of the League Cup which took place on the Sunday in-between two UEFA Cup ties with Liverpool.
For good measure Celtic played Rangers in the SPL the weekend before which meant that Martin O’Neill’s side faced Rangers and Liverpool twice each over a period of 12 days.
As Celtic discovered that season the price of chasing success on four fronts can be costly but despite the lack of trophies on show it’s doubtful if anyone at Celtic would wish to sacrifice that season’s European run for domestic success.
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