Boab 73 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 By DEREK McGREGORPublished: 03 Jul 2010Flop Rangers boss Paul le Guen has spoken for the first time about his sensational Ibrox bust-up with Fernando Ricksen.The Frenchman - just six months in charge at Gers - has dramatically confessed the Dutchman's boozy pre-season disgrace left him scared.The ex-Lyon gaffer also still insisted ditching hot head Ricksen was an 'error'.Le Guen effectively sacked Ricksen four years ago after the full-back shamed himself and the club by getting bevvied on a pre-season flight to South Africa.Ricksen was also abusive to air stewardesses.Le Guen was furious, having already granted the Dutchman a last chance at Rangers following a plea from club supremo David Murray.He instantly sent Ricksen back home.The player became reunited with Dick Advocaat at Zenit St Petersburg on a loan deal before they bought him.It was a shocking end to Ricksen's six-year period with Gers.Le Guen didn't know it then, but it was also the beginning of the end for HIM with hopeless results and another dressing room fight to come - with Barry Ferguson.He revealed: "I knew Fernando had problems. David Murray told me: 'Give him a last chance', and I accepted this."But when we travelled to South Africa we had a problem. In my mind that was his last chance. I had to do my job."I was unlucky because Fernando was an important player for the squad. He could have been useful for me but the problem during this flight wasn't a small problem. It was a REAL problem and I was a little bit afraid."Don't forget, this was his last chance. I think I deserved respect for that."To sack him was perhaps an error - even with this mistake."Le Guen, though, loved the proposition from Murray about taking over Rangers.He added: "Straight away I was interested in coming to coach Rangers but perhaps I didn't know enough about Scottish football or the club before I came."However, I wanted to go. My first feeling about it was very good."I made mistakes but I also thought I was very unlucky in the beginning."I had some problems with Ricksen and a little bit with Barry Ferguson."I didn't do everything well, but I felt I was unlucky in the beginning."I tried to change things too quickly."I'd won three titles with Lyon - and perhaps I felt a bit too confident at the beginning.AdvertisementQuantcast Quantcast"I felt I could change everything straight away but I accept that I should have been more patient."I have to recognise it was my fault. If I was to do it again it would be different."It was my first experience abroad and I know I made mistakes."It was great for me to be the coach of Rangers."Le Guen, speaking on Radio Scotland, sought the help of Ibrox legend Walter Smith just days before he stripped Ferguson of the captaincy.On the meeting at Smith's home he said: "I listened to him, but it was impossible to follow his advice."Le Guen regrets the fall-out with Ferguson, but added: "I think when your biggest player wants you to go then it's better to leave."You can't work without the help of the most important player."Barry Ferguson had been very close with Alex McLeish. With me, though, it was just impossible."After two or three months it had become so difficult."Ferguson's a very good player and he was also my best player."But I expected him to be a real example and I thought that wasn't really the case."Gers chief Murray couldn't disguise his smugness as he unveiled the previously hugely successful Lyon coach le Guen as Alex McLeish's successor.He said then: "We've been very fortunate in securing one of the most exciting, promising and successful managers in Europe."Le Guen, however, will only be remembered as one of Rangers' WORST bosses.Yet, despite his misery in Glasgow he'll always value the 'experience' of being an Old Firm gaffer.Le Guen said: "My family was OK and my children wanted to stay in Glasgow."My wife and children often speak about it."It was a very good experience for our family."Rangers are a massive club and I'm happy to have had such an experience. It was not so great for the club - but it was great for me."Managing The Old Firm, BBC Radio Scotland today between 4-5pm.Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3039696/Fernando-scared-me-but-I-was-wrong-to-give-him-the-boot.html#ixzz0sZKCzznx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan 9 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 PLG was a spineless barsteward.I need to read of nothing else.A team can make 3 subs, in the games he cited at the time we made two, that equates to no spine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwrfc 32 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Ricksen acted totally unprofessionally, what was he supposed to do?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBlue 39 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 What's your thoughts Boab? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MasterD 7,442 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Crap manager, still living off a good season at Lyon where i could probably have led them to the French title Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 "I think when your biggest player wants you to go then it's better to leave.Eh ? Am i missing something here .Fucking stupid thing to say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan 9 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Ricksen acted totally unprofessionally, what was he supposed to do??Ricksen was not his downfall, nor Ferguson, he was.To comment on others is deflecting blame for incompetence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBlue 39 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Ricksen acted totally unprofessionally, what was he supposed to do??Ricksen was not his downfall, nor Ferguson, he was.To comment on others is deflecting blame for incompetence.Well I think he was right to get rid of Ricksen.. although he did little else right, his only decent signings were Papac and Clement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan 9 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Ricksen acted totally unprofessionally, what was he supposed to do??Ricksen was not his downfall, nor Ferguson, he was.To comment on others is deflecting blame for incompetence.Well I think he was right to get rid of Ricksen.. although he did little else right, his only decent signings were Papac and Clement.He got nothing right in his time, a totally wasted chapter of existence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBF2 3,540 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 He flopped, he realises his mistake, he can only go on to be better from this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeeBlue 39 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 He flopped, he realises his mistake, he can only go on to be better from this.Done.. first team eliminated from the world cup.... Cameroon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan 9 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 He flopped, he realises his mistake, he can only go on to be better from this.Done.. first team eliminated from the world cup.... Cameroon. Correct.Like most I bought into it, Viva Le Guen...................The only thing he 'managed' to do was turn Rangers Fans against a good Rangers man. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman 1,248 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 When he admitted to the press that he did not know how to get the team to win games and asked them what he should do meant he lost any respect he had with the players.His failure to research scottish football,our club and most the basic; the players showed either overblown arrogance or just plain incompetence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Am I having Déjà vu, I'm positive the Sun printed the same story a few months back... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
broxibear87 129 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Am I having Déjà vu, I'm positive the Sun printed the same story a few months back...Was thinking the same DB, something similar anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan 9 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 When he admitted to the press that he did not know how to get the team to win games and asked them what he should do meant he lost any respect he had with the players.His failure to research scottish football,our club and most the basic; the players showed either overblown arrogance or just plain incompetence.Don't believe one word of that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
disgruntled_bear 157 Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Am I having Déjà vu, I'm positive the Sun printed the same story a few months back...Was thinking the same DB, something similar anyway.I'm glad somebody else remembers something similar, must have been a slow news day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simplythebest 11,453 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Getting rid of Ricksen was one of the few things Le Guen did right! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwrfc 32 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Ricksen acted totally unprofessionally, what was he supposed to do??Ricksen was not his downfall, nor Ferguson, he was.To comment on others is deflecting blame for incompetence.I never said it was, nor did I say Ferguson was...But getting rid of Ricksen imo was the correct decision, as has been stated he was apparently given his last chance by PLG because Murray begged on his behalf, and he blew it big time...If he had not of acted then he would have probably lost the respect and confidence of the players before he had even got started. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseyjones 3,009 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 This story was printed during the season. Must be a re-run. Le Guen made many mistakes, as he admits in the interview, however he wasn't alone. Ricksen was out of control and had to go, but Ferguson should have followed him, as his subsequent behaviour has shown. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSifter 181 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 I'm not too sure there is much wrong in what he said. He struggled for three reasons in my opinion; lack of money on a team that finished a poor third, inability to sign a decent centre half and a cultural clash with some players. It's a shame for both parties it never worked out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanjo 26,339 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 "I'd won three titles with Lyon - and perhaps I felt a bit too confident at the beginning.AdvertisementQuantcast Quantcast"I felt I could change everything straight away but I accept that I should have been more patient."sums it up for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 912 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Le Guen was absolutely spot on regarding Ricksen.He wasn't cut out for winning in Scotland though, but I don't think there can be any denying that Barry, at the peak of his powers, had far too much power within Ibrox. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dee9 3,997 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 Le Guen showed a complete lack of respect for rangers and scottish football IMO! To think he could sit on the couch watching a few dvds of teams then come in and run a mock was a joke! A man who i thought would be a revalation for our great club turned out to be a huge mistake! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
docspiderman 1,248 Posted July 3, 2010 Share Posted July 3, 2010 When he admitted to the press that he did not know how to get the team to win games and asked them what he should do meant he lost any respect he had with the players.His failure to research scottish football,our club and most the basic; the players showed either overblown arrogance or just plain incompetence.Don't believe one word of that.Post match press conference after the usual good start in a game then failing to capitalise to win the 3 points.Around the time the chairman had to intervene in the dressing room;another sign that PLG had lost respect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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