Nico Raskin blasted for Rangers ‘arrogance’ as Ibrox star issues response to mentality doubters

One ex Light Blues favourite is also convinced the player won’t be around in Govan much longer

Nico Raskin(Image: SNS Group)

Nico Raskin is an arrogant player who sees himself as a level about his teammates in the Rangers squad.

That’s according to former Light Blues forward Gordon Dalziel, who has launched a scathing attack on the Belgium international.

Raskin was frozen out of the first team picture at Rangers at the start of the season by previous boss Russell Martin, who felt that the player had been affected by speculation surrounding his future in last summer’s transfer window.

The 25-year-old has been an integral part of the side under Danny Rohl that clawed themselves back into a title race, only for successive defeats to Motherwell and Hearts inside the past two weeks to see Rangers fall seven points adrift of the league leaders and four off second placed Celtic with three games remaining.

Rohl and his players have taken plenty flak in the wake of the damaging defeats and Raskin – who is set to represent his country at the upcoming World Cup – has now targeted specifically by Dalziel.

Speaking on Open Goal, he stated: “Raskin to me, if he gets all the nonsense out, he’s a good football player. To me, he just looks like an arrogant guy who thinks he’s better than what he is because he’s in the Belgium squad.

“Tell me what he does because I look at him and say, is he a sitting midfielder, a forward midfield player, does he create things, does he open up defences?

Derek Ferguson appeared on the same show and fully expects Raskin to move on at the end of the campaign: “He won’t be there next season.

“He made it very clear when he came to the club that Rangers were a stepping stone, and that’s a problem. A stepping stone to get down to England.”

Raskin himself admits that players will always get accusations about mentality labelled against them until they are able to get their hands on the big honours.

Ahead of Sunday’s do-or-die clash with Celtic at Parkhead, he told Sky Sports: “The last two games have been a big blow for us. Now it’s about regrouping and bouncing back. It’s hard to talk, it’s just about refocusing to go for the win and we will see what happens.

Rangers’ Nico Raskin looks dejected

“Obviously until you win the big things, mentality is always going to be the question. I think we have done pretty well to get ourselves back into the title race but we’ve not been consistent enough in the most important games, which were the last two.

“I think in football there are loads of things that are happening that come into question. It’s hard to find something to say.

“It (against Celtic) is always a good game to play in. We know what it means to the fans and for everyone. If winning can give a little bit of joy after two weeks of problems, we will do everything to win the game.

“Intensity wise, we need to make sure we can perform for the full 90 minutes. Quality and personality wise, we need everything to go and win over there.”