As reported by The Daily Mirror, new Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha is already causing quite a stir in Scottish football on his first day in the Ibrox hotseat.

What's the story?

Caixinha has barely had time to assess his new squad but is already firing warning shots to the opposition and banking points against them in upcoming matches.

Aberdeen were in his sights in his first press conference and the new manager doesn't see his team as eight points behind the Dons, already banking points in the two matches remaining between the sides.

As quoted by The Daily Mirror, Caixinha said:

If you ask me what the targets are for the end of this season, we can say okay, we are eight points below second place but we need to play that opponent twice, so that means we are just two points below according to the way we see things. We are chasing but we like to be in this position.

It's an interesting viewpoint but we can't help feeling that he's already writing Derek McInnes' team talk for him when the two clubs meet at Pittodrie in April.

Closing the gap

There are just ten games remaining in the Scottish Premiership season, which isn't a long time to haul in an eight point gap on the team above you. Finishing second remains a key aim for Rangers but how realistic is it?

It's true that the matches against Aberdeen are two of the biggest remaining for the Gers but travelling to Pittodrie is hardly going to be a walk in the park. The last time the two sides met there the Dons came out 2-1 winners thanks to a last-minute wonder strike from James Maddison.

Time will tell whether Caixinha is right to project confidence so early in his Rangers career. We're certain though that opposition Aberdeen fans, and perhaps players, will take his comments differently.

[ad_pod id='Shoot-Xmas-Survey' align='left']

[ad_pod id='playwire' align='center']