Rangers are still semi-final favourites, but we can cause a cup upset, says Motherwell boss
Stuart Kettlewell denies Rangers’ current turmoil means his Motherwell side have a better chance of winning this afternoon’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
And he says the Ibrox side are still firm favourites to progress to the final, despite a run of poor form that has seen Philippe Clement’s side fall nine points behind Premiership joint-leaders Celtic and Aberdeen, attracting heavy criticism.
Fourth-placed Motherwell are three points behind Rangers in the table, having enjoyed a solid start to their campaign, but Kettlewell is taking absolutely nothing for granted.
“Rangers spend millions on players and we look for free agents and into the loan market,” said Kettlewell. “That’s not mind games, that’s the harsh reality of it.
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t believe in ourselves, or don’t believe that we can go there and cause some sort of upset.
“For Motherwell to progress in this competition, I believe it would be a huge upset. Rangers will be massive favourites from the size of the club and the investment, but we don’t think along those terms.
“In the latter stages of that game we were the team that was on the front foot, we were trying to get back level, and we were a bit frustrated on the day that there were [only] two minutes added time.
“I think that tells you we were trying to win that game, so I don’t see a greater opportunity than any time we’ve played them before.
“I understand there is a slightly different narrative with Rangers at this time that we play against them, but it doesn’t change our mind-set and our focus.”
On their own run of form, which continued with a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Wednesday, Kettlewell said: “I believe we’re punching above our weight.
“I don’t really look at the league position, but we have 16 points, which I think is a very good start to the season.
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