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SportScottish PremiershipRangers boss Pedro Caixinha 'naive' with Old Firm tactics against Celtic, insists...

Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha ‘naive’ with Old Firm tactics against Celtic, insists ex-Ibrox striker

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FORMER Rangers striker Steven Thompson has branded Ibrox boss Pedro Caixinha ‘naive’ for his Old Firm tactics.

Having been a distant second best in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic, the Portuguese head coach suffered an even bigger humiliation as the Light Blues were hammered 5-1 at the weekend.

It was the Hoops’ biggest-ever win at Ibrox and Thompson insists Caixinha’s game-plan was to blame.

He said: “Celtic are so far ahead it’s incredible and Saturday’s game perfectly portrayed the vast difference between the sides.

“It could have been 8 or 9-1.

“For the second week in a row, for me, Caixinha got his tactics wrong.

“He went with a narrow midfield diamond and two up front.

“Was it bold? No, probably more naive than bold.”

Caixinha is reportedly targeting up to a dozen new recruits this summer, with most observers acknowledging the 46-year-old’s need to completely overhaul the squad he inherited from predecessor Mark Warburton.

Thompson added to BBC Scotland: “I think he just needs the end of the season.

“He’s playing with Mark Warburton’s players and recruitment has not been good enough from Mark Warburton.

“He’ll want to get to the summer to get the transfer window open and get his own players in.”

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