LET'S just spare a thought for all the Rangers wives and girlfriends who were forced to do the school run yesterday.
Because believe me, there will have been a few drowsy dads struggling to get their heads off the pillow as the alarm went after Ibrox's latest Thursday thriller.
Having played in a few of these myself, I can tell you getting to sleep afterwards was always one of the biggest challenges.
As soon as you were back in the changing room after the final whistle, the sport science guys were on you making sure to get food and liquids down your throat to aid your recovery.
But these drinks, things like Lucozade and Red Bull, are full of sugar. Combined with all the adrenalin still pumping round your system, you would often find yourself getting home, climbing into bed and then staring at the ceiling until 4am.
Some guys I played with would resort to popping sleeping tablets to get some rest.
But I was always wary. These tablets can become addictive and leave you reliant upon them any time you want to nod off so it wasn't for me.
I tried them for a short spell but while they'd knock you out, it wasn't a proper kip - more of a fake sleep.
So you'd still end up feeling groggy in the morning.
Regardless, you can bet there will have been a few tired lads cutting about the training ground yesterday.
They will be well looked after at Auchenhowie, though, with everything on hand they need to get themselves going again for tomorrow's huge Old Firm game.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/60W9woHngHrlRPu4Misys/0033737040.jpg]
Knowing James Tavernier, he will have spent the whole day there going through his full recovery session.
It was almost like a spa day for Tav! He'd be in the jacuzzi and the ice bath before getting a rub down.
As for me, I just couldn't wait to get out of there the day after a big match the night before. There would still be so much emotion floating around the place after occasions like the win over Fenerbahce and I preferred to nip in for a massage then take myself away from it all to rest up at home.
The one thing Rangers can’t afford to do this weekend is be caught napping. Celtic are three games away from clinching another title and will be fired up.
While Rangers were going the distance against Jose Mourinho’s Turks, Brendan Rodgers and his team have had a full week to prepare.
I imagine they will even have squeezed in another video session yesterday after getting a second look at the 5-4-1 system Barry Ferguson used over both legs.
Some people might think the lads will be dreading going up against Rodgers' side having had to go through 120 gruelling minutes
But for me it's the perfect game to come back into.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/60W9woHngHrlRPu4Misys/2107316630.jpg]
We all know this Rangers side has sometimes struggled going back to the meat and drink of the Premiership having dined out alongside the European elite in midweek.
That mentality shift has clearly been difficult for them but tomorrow's trip to Parkhead is a game everybody will be up for.
But I know how difficult it is to bounce from an extra-time shift into a derby battle.
The Rangers team I played for did that when we edged past Braga on the road to Seville a couple of years back, going again three days later to knock Ange Postecoglou's Celtic out of the Scottish Cup.
I remember our boss Gio van Bronckhorst being so calm in the build-up. He was never much for shouting or giving impassioned speeches.
He was a tactical coach but Barry has a different approach.
I was on telly duty on Thursday night and when w...
Because believe me, there will have been a few drowsy dads struggling to get their heads off the pillow as the alarm went after Ibrox's latest Thursday thriller.
Having played in a few of these myself, I can tell you getting to sleep afterwards was always one of the biggest challenges.
As soon as you were back in the changing room after the final whistle, the sport science guys were on you making sure to get food and liquids down your throat to aid your recovery.
But these drinks, things like Lucozade and Red Bull, are full of sugar. Combined with all the adrenalin still pumping round your system, you would often find yourself getting home, climbing into bed and then staring at the ceiling until 4am.
Some guys I played with would resort to popping sleeping tablets to get some rest.
But I was always wary. These tablets can become addictive and leave you reliant upon them any time you want to nod off so it wasn't for me.
I tried them for a short spell but while they'd knock you out, it wasn't a proper kip - more of a fake sleep.
So you'd still end up feeling groggy in the morning.
Regardless, you can bet there will have been a few tired lads cutting about the training ground yesterday.
They will be well looked after at Auchenhowie, though, with everything on hand they need to get themselves going again for tomorrow's huge Old Firm game.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/60W9woHngHrlRPu4Misys/0033737040.jpg]
Knowing James Tavernier, he will have spent the whole day there going through his full recovery session.
It was almost like a spa day for Tav! He'd be in the jacuzzi and the ice bath before getting a rub down.
As for me, I just couldn't wait to get out of there the day after a big match the night before. There would still be so much emotion floating around the place after occasions like the win over Fenerbahce and I preferred to nip in for a massage then take myself away from it all to rest up at home.
The one thing Rangers can’t afford to do this weekend is be caught napping. Celtic are three games away from clinching another title and will be fired up.
While Rangers were going the distance against Jose Mourinho’s Turks, Brendan Rodgers and his team have had a full week to prepare.
I imagine they will even have squeezed in another video session yesterday after getting a second look at the 5-4-1 system Barry Ferguson used over both legs.
Some people might think the lads will be dreading going up against Rodgers' side having had to go through 120 gruelling minutes
But for me it's the perfect game to come back into.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742004687/articles/60W9woHngHrlRPu4Misys/2107316630.jpg]
We all know this Rangers side has sometimes struggled going back to the meat and drink of the Premiership having dined out alongside the European elite in midweek.
That mentality shift has clearly been difficult for them but tomorrow's trip to Parkhead is a game everybody will be up for.
But I know how difficult it is to bounce from an extra-time shift into a derby battle.
The Rangers team I played for did that when we edged past Braga on the road to Seville a couple of years back, going again three days later to knock Ange Postecoglou's Celtic out of the Scottish Cup.
I remember our boss Gio van Bronckhorst being so calm in the build-up. He was never much for shouting or giving impassioned speeches.
He was a tactical coach but Barry has a different approach.
I was on telly duty on Thursday night and when w...
You're reading a preview of
Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 15, 2025