PRE-MATCH QUOTES & PPV INFO FOR BOXING DAY FIXTURE

Tam Courts sat down with DUTV ahead of Boxing Day's home clash against Premier Sports Cup Finalists Hibernian to discuss last week's visit to Ibrox, the impact of the young players, the influence of COVID-19 on our preparations so far, team selection, the absence of the majority of our fans, the decision to move the winter break forward seven days and finally what to expect from Shaun Maloney's Hibs.

Reflection on Rangers 

"I think last week we had a disjointed week and we had to give a lot of credit to the coaching staff who tried to get the detail into the players when it was an ever-changing scenario. I think once we arrived at Ibrox we had the right mentality and the players were excited with the opportunity that arose unexpectedly and then by the time 4:45 came around there was an enormous sense of pride at the performance level and also a tinge of disappointment that we didn’t come away with something. The last thing we want to be is a club that give ourselves a pat on the back when dropping the three points but taking into account the extenuating circumstances I think it was probably a credible performance and a sore result to take in the end."

The Flourishing Youth Talent

 
"Yeah it’s great. The good thing from our perspective, throughout this season we've given young players regular opportunities. Young players very rarely let you down and I think on Saturday we saw the future of this club is rooted in our academy players and also that there's a bright future ahead for the club. So that being said, I'm really proud of everything that was performed on the pitch but still disappointed we came away with nothing in the end."

Selection Headaches

"This week we've seen the young players return to training with a renewed hunger because they’ve had a taste of it (first-team action) and naturally they now want to take the big step forward of becoming a regular starter in the team. Ultimately, that is exactly what we want to give them opportunities to do in the future but I think a lot of our success this year, particularly in the early part of the season, was built on the consistency and support of our senior players and I'm looking forward to them returning. However, it looks like it's going to be virtually the same squad available for the weekends game so, albeit with a couple coming back in at the back end of the week, they (young players) will be getting another opportunity and I'm so excited to see them play."

COVID-19's Impact 

"I think footballers are pretty robust and resilient, they’ve been working through these measures for the last couple of years. I just get the feeling that there's a real sense of disappointment, particularly towards the fans, because at this time of the year fans really enjoy watching sport, on the TV or live, and I think the players have become accustomed to playing in front of big crowds again so to have that taken away creates a solemn feeling regarding playing in essentially empty stadiums again."

Crowd Restrictions 

"It's really devastating. Our fans have given us enormous backing and I think they really enjoyed what they saw at Ibrox last Saturday. I'm sure they were looking forward to seeing a lot of these young players at Tannadice this weekend and that’s been cruelly taken away from them which will no doubt have an impact on us because we've got used to having them back, giving us that extra competitive advantage, and for it to be taken away during the festive period is bitterly disappointing."

Winter Break 

"Naturally, we wanted to do everything that would preserve the integrity of the league and the fixture calendar but to have our fans back in the stadium is the main priority. If this measure allows that to happen then it's fantastic because we really need to have fans back in stadiums as quickly as possible. Whether that’s socially distanced or other measures in place, we need to explore every single avenue."

Looking Ahead to Hibs

"We're always very optimistic here and we trust the group of players we've got. We're probably two or three months into getting regular and consistent injuries so we've adopted a mindset that we're just going to attack every single week with a lot of positivity. We've had some decent results over the course of the season, some performances of late haven’t been of the same level we're aware of that, but I'd like to think what we showed last week that, with the players that are returning and with a clean bill of health, from January onwards there's a lot to be positive about."

A Message for the Arabs

"I feel your disappointment. But the key thing for me and the type of club we’re trying to be and trying to build together is a unified club and I'd just like to thank you for your support, not only of me, the staff and the players but also everything we do at this club such as the community initiatives which is a huge part of what we stand for. Their support of the team this year has been absolutely exemplary, particularly away from home where we've seen some tremendous performances and results which have fused a real connection with the fans and I'm looking to build on that in the new year. Thank you and Merry Christmas."

How To Watch

Sunday's match will be available for PPV purchase in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales however, due to UEFA restrictions, this game is not purchasable in England. The stream is priced at £12.50.

Alongside PPV, season ticket holders, including half-season ticket holders, unable to attend can view the match through the use of their VST.

The format for logging in is as follows:
Firstname (space) Surname-number (John Smith-12345678910112). You can get the number from your season card.