Van Bronckhorst refuses to blame Rangers absences for Old Firm defeat | OneFootball

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst had “no excuses” after his side slumped to a 2-1 home defeat against arch rivals Celtic on Sunday.

Aaron Ramsey gave the Gers the perfect start with a third-minute opener at Ibrox, but the visitors hit back through Tom Rogic and Cameron Carter-Vickers to take the lead before half time.

Ange Postecoglou’s side managed to hold out in order to open up a six-point lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.

Kemar Roofe operated as a lone striker for Rangers, with Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi both unavailable through injury.

Asked if the lack of attacking options was a key factor, van Bronckhorst opted not to bail out the players on show.

“It was just the way we had to handle it. He wasn’t here. I don’t want to find any excuses. He wasn’t available, Hagi wasn’t available.

“There are no excuses in football. There are no excuses for Rangers or me as to why we lost today.

“I don’t want to find excuses, I just want to play as good as we can with the players we have available. That is my job and that is my task.

“Of course we are very disappointed that he is not here, that is a different story. Of course we want Morelos to be involved but he isn’t and that is a fact.”

The Light Blues will look to bounce back in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at home to Braga.