Source: Team_Talk
Mendes plays down derby clash
The Portuguese star helped the Ibrox club move back to within a point of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Hearts.
Mendes, 30, accepts the winner of this weekend's clash will take a big step towards the title but does not believe the loser can be ruled out of the race.
"I don't think so," he said.
"There will still be three games to go, nine points to play for.
"But it will be a big step, I have to admit that, towards the title."
Old Firm derbies are big enough when there is nothing riding on them but local pride.
However, with the destiny of the championship at stake, Mendes knows matches do not get much more important than Saturday's Ibrox encounter.
"It's a massive game, massive," he said.
"Afterwards, there will be three games to go, so it will be massive for both teams.
"We definitely want to win it and go top."
Mendes feared he might miss the crunch clash after suffering what appeared
to be a serious knee injury in the Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final against St Mirren just over a week ago.
The problem turned out not to be serious and he completed a full 90 minutes yesterday.
Mendes admitted to being "very tired" after the game, having been unable to train for most of last week.
He said: "I didn't train for most of the week, just having treatment and trying to recover the knee.
"I'm pleased with how the game went. It was an important win and a massive three points for us."
Mendes was speaking after missing out on the PFA Scotland Player of the Year prize to Celtic's Scott Brown.
The Rangers midfielder had the consolation of landing the Goal of the Season gong for his wonder strike in August's 4-2 derby win at Parkhead.
The effort earned the summer signing instant hero status among Ibrox fans but Mendes played down becoming an idol, preferring instead to focus on the goal's importance to the team.
Describing it as one of the favourite goals of his career, he added: "Not necessarily because I became a hero, but because I'd joined Rangers three weeks before that game and because it was my first Old Firm game.
"It was the third goal that helped the team settle and it took us to the win.
"I was pleased with that."
