Papac not worried by fixture pile-up

17 March 2010 18:29
Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final is the first of what will be at least eight fixtures in the next 29 days for Walter Smith's men, who will have to play every weekend and midweek up until April 18 if they are to continue to compete on three fronts.[LNB]Next Wednesday's Scottish Cup quarter-final replay will determine whether Rangers have a ninth game to play in that period.[LNB]With a small squad from which to choose, the next month could stretch the Ibrox club's resources to the absolute limit.[LNB]But rather than fret over such a schedule, left-back Papac has shrugged it off.[LNB]"We've had a lot of games this season, really, and we don't have a big squad," the 30-year-old said.[LNB]"But we are ready for this and it doesn't matter when the games are - in two or three days, or seven days."[LNB]Rangers have not helped themselves on that front by being taken to replays in every round of the Scottish Cup.[LNB]The latest was arguably the most frustrating of all, with Papac and his team-mates throwing away a 3-1 lead against United.[LNB]The collapse prompted a severe dressing-down from irate manager Walter Smith, something Papac actually welcomed.[LNB]"Especially at Ibrox, three goals against us is too much," he said. "If you are 3-1 up after 60 minutes, you must win this game.[LNB]"I think we have been a little bit lazy this season in the cup.[LNB]"Against Hamilton we also conceded three goals.[LNB]"We must wake up now."[LNB]Indeed, Papac claims Rangers' attitude towards the competition has been poor compared to how they have approached the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, which they lead by 13 points.[LNB]"Maybe we play better if we have more pressure, like in the SPL," he said.[LNB]"We have pressure every game and we give everything.[LNB]"Maybe in the cup, we don't play 100% sometimes and this is a problem, I think.[LNB]"You must give 100% yourself. It doesn't matter if it's a cup game or an SPL game.[LNB]"We know this in the changing room."[LNB]Yet, Papac admitted it will be more difficult to motivate himself for Sunday's League Cup final, simply because of Rangers' familiarity with the opposition.[LNB]"It's the sixth game against St Mirren this season," he said.[LNB]"The last five games were very similar against them, always hard.[LNB]"They play very well against us.[LNB]"In cup games, there always can be a surprise.[LNB]"But I think we have good quality and a good team and we'll try to take this cup.[LNB]"It's a good team against us because St Mirren have now extra motivation because of a cup final.[LNB]"It's a long time since they played in the final.[LNB]"But we have experience for the last couple of seasons and we can win this final."[LNB]The League Cup is arguably the least important of Scotland's major trophies but try telling that to Papac.[LNB]"It's something special if you take medals in your career," he said.[LNB]"It's an amazing memory for any player."[LNB]Ensuring the silverware forms part of a treble remains the ultimate goal, however.[LNB]"I think we must play game to game and try to go step by step," Papac said.[LNB]"It's the first final this year.[LNB]"We have a good gap in the SPL and trying to finish with another cup is difficult because we have another game in Dundee but we will see."[LNB][LNB] Scottish CIS Cup Winner 2009/10. Click here to bet.  

Source: Team_Talk