PEDRO Caixinha told his critics last night that he has no intention of altering his abrasive style of management and expects all his summer signings to display a similar mentality.
Rangers’ fiery Portuguese manager fell foul of former Celtic striker and Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas this week for “walking in and thinking he owns our country”, but the 46-year-old said all he was doing during a week of terse tit-for-tat with Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was defending the club’s honour.
One man who certainly fits that bill is Caixinha’s countryman Bruno Alves, a warlike Portuguese international central defender, who has reportedly agreed to join on a free transfer from Cagliari. Caixinha would neither confirm or deny the 35-year-old’s arrival, but said by this time next week he would be able to present a fairly exhaustive list of the club’s summer transfer dealings – both in and out.
“The players need to know which club they are coming to,” said Caixinha. “They need to feel that passion just to represent such a big club like this. When they come by my hand and they know me, they are playing first of all for the club, but they are also playing for me and you start to know how I am. I am looking to build the team under my image.”
Asked about the Nicholas comments, he said: “I don’t know the football commentators. But outside these walls people know this club is getting ready for action again. It’s being rebuilt and that’s maybe what is costing for some people. I am defending this badge and this club and that’s what really matters to me.
“All the managers who passed before me, they weren’t defending the club as well? That is what I am doing. I know that the attacks are coming from everywhere but I don’t care about it. As long as I have the support of this club and the support of the people who brought me to this club I am fine with it.”
Sunday sees the curtain fall on an underwhelming campaign for the Ibrox side on their return to the Ladbrokes Premiership and Caixinha said much would change in the fortnight between their last match and the players reporting for pre-season training on June 5.
“I don’t want to change the culture, but I want to take advantage of the massive history and tradition of this club,” said Caixinha. “I want to remind everyone who is working here just how huge and massive this club is.”
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