Rangers secured their place in next month's Premier Sports Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden, and midfielder Nico Raskin has made clear the squad's determination to lift the trophy for manager Derek McInnes.
Ryan Naderi scored the decisive goal with six minutes remaining, tapping home after James Penrice's mis-hit shot fell kindly for him. The win booked Rangers' return to Mount Florida for the final on December 13, giving McInnes the chance to claim his first trophy at Ibrox after 20 years working his way back to the club.
Raskin praises McInnes influence
Raskin, who captained the side with Lawrence Shankland injured and Dan Neil dropped to the bench, said the win meant more than just reaching a final. "It feels top to reach the final. It's really good for the team. But now we want to win it and there's one game to go. Now we go full force to win the cup," he said.
"I know what this will mean for the manager too - 100 percent. He breathes Rangers and he gives that to us. It's so good to have someone like him driving us every day and on the pitch. I'm delighted for him and hopefully we can win it for him too."
Composed team talk key
Raskin revealed McInnes kept his pre-match message calm and focused rather than resorting to rousing words. "He told us that it wasn't going to be easy, that if we turn up and do everything we have to do, then we'd win the game," the Belgian explained.
"We couldn't come out with complacency and think it would be easy to score four goals. It's a hard game that isn't easy to win, so we have to enjoy it when we do."
"The manager is quite straight-forward. He knows what he wants to say when he talks to us. He knows how to adapt the game when circumstances are changing and tries to prepare us in the best way. Then it's up to us to take his message on and play the way he wants."
Bouanani impresses despite no goal
Badredine Bouanani was Rangers' standout performer at Hampden, repeatedly troubling the Aberdeen defence with his footwork. The Stuttgart loanee saw several efforts saved by keeper Marius Muller but could not find the net himself.
Raskin backed the Algerian and fellow attackers Minsu Kim and Djeidi Gassama to start scoring soon. "He didn't play at such a high level for nothing. He's a top player. Having him, Gassama, Minsu, Findlay Curtis, it's just great to have some one-vs-one pace on the side and going forward," he said.
"Bouanani is top. These guys are desperate to score - but then you have Ryan scoring with his knee! I spoke to Minsu and he said to me, 'When I get in front of the goal, I just want to score!' Maybe sometimes it's just about relaxing, taking a deep breath and scoring the goal."
On leading the team out, Raskin said: "It was good, a really enjoyable moment. The gaffer told me before the game and it was good for me, and good that we won. I'm very happy for the team and for everyone. It was sometimes difficult. If we scored earlier, we could have had more control of the game. At 0-0 or 1-0, it's always a more tense game. We're just delighted to win."
