Iakona 2,271 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 NACHO: I'M GUTTED HE'S GOING BUT WE NEED PLAYERS WHOSE HEART IS AT GERS. Nacho Novo waved goodbye to a friend, team-mate, countryman and neighbour yesterday when Carlos Cuellar headed south to move to a a brand new Villa. But even though the little striker will feel Cuellar's loss more than most at Rangers, he remains adamant there should be no tears shed over his big pal's decision to move on. As far as Novo is concerned, all those who do not have the stomach for a battle at Ibrox should be escorted of the premises before the fighting begins. Even if it means saying adios to his best amigo. Having acted as a confidant to Cuellar over the last few days Novo has been left in no doubt it was the player and not the club who was pushing for his £8 million transfer to Aston Villa. Which is why Novo is convinced his fellow Spaniard HAD to go. Speaking exclusively to Record Sport Novo said: "I have heard people say the club wanted to sell Carlos because we lost so much money from the Champions League. That's not true - and I know that for a fact because Carlos told me." "Everyone knows how close we are and Carlos told me about everything that was happening. He told me even when Villa made their offer, Rangers asked him to sign a new contract because the gaffer didnt want to lose him." "I told him he was crazy to leave and I said if it was me, I would never leave a club like Rangers. We might not be in the Premiership but we are a bigger club than Aston Villa and we get the chance to play European football every season. And they dont have fans like ourd down there." "But Carlos had to make his own decision. I might not agree with it but I respect his mentality. He did what was best for his future and he wants to play in England." "I wont criticise my friend for doing what he thinks is right. I hope he has a successful time in England. But the truth is, if he doesnt want to play for Rangers, it's better for everyone if he goes." Novo is in no doubt about the size of the task that confronts a club still reeling from three of the most traumatic months in it's long history. The rot set in last May as Rangers lost a Uefa Cup Final and league title in the space of just a few devastating days. The calamitous Champions League defeat in Kaunas brought supporters to the brink of revolt. And they where ready to storm the front doors of Ibrox yesterday as former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, an old pal, secured their favourite player. Novo knows only one thing can keep the baying mob at bay - the SPL crown. He said: "Look, it's going to be hard enough for us this season. The fans are angry and disappointed with us because of what happened in Kaunas. We havent been playing weel and there is pressure on the manager." "There is only one way to answer all of this - we MUST win that title. But if we are going to do that we must all be together, the fans, the players and the management. We cant have people who do not want to stay and fight for Rangers Football Club." "Carlos made up his mind he wanted to be elsewhere. He is my friend but we are better off without anyone who does not want to play for this shirt. This is going to be a hell of a battle and we need players who have the heart and desire to go all the way." "If you do not want to be part of things at Rangers then it is better for everyone you go. Carlos loved the fans and loved the club but wanted something else." "I'm sad my friend is leaving and the team will miss him to as he's such a good player. But everyone must understand one thing - life will go on at Rangers without him." "Carlos is gone but now it is up to the rest of us to deal with that and do the business on the pitch." Novo has no plans to bail out even though there is indeed some substance to reports of interest from English top-flight new boys Hull. Novo simply shook his head and said: "I havent heard anything from City and I dont want to." "Yes it is always nice to know clubs are interested in you, especially clubs in a league like the Premiership." "But Rangers are my club. They gave me the chance to be what I am today. The fans have stuck by me even through difficult times when I was injured or out of the team. The gaffer gave me a new deal last summer when he could have let me go. I owe him for that." "These are my people, my family, and I will stay here and fight for them. I love Rangers and wouldnt leave them at a time like this. Now is the time to stay and fight for the people and the club you love. I want to be part of a team that makes our fans happy again." "I'm not the type of player who takes the first offer he gets to leave." No. Nacho Novo believes he has a duty to stay and fight and to help a manager who chose not to toss him on the scrapheap 12 months ago - at a time he feared his time at Ibrox was coming to a close. He said: "The gaffer showed faith in me last summer when he gave me a new contract. He could have chose to let me go. I will always thank him for that." "I know fans are angry and they have every right to be upset. But they shouldnt blame Walter, they must blame the players. We are the guys who have let them down." "The manager has a passion for this club and I know what he is trying to do. I know he didnt want to sell Carlos and I know how much it hurts him when things are not going well. It was not his fault Carlos wanted to leave." "This is not an easy time for the gaffer but I know one thing about him - he is a winner. With the fans and players behind him we can recover from this and win the title." "I am not a loser - I am here to win things - and I believe I can win them with Walter From the Record... Credit to Craig Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser77 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 STILL DNT BELIEVE CUELLAR WANTED OUT DNT CARE WHAT ANYONE TELLS ME BUT I TELL YOU SOMETHING GUYS NACHO MAY NOT BE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD BT HIS ATTITUDE AND ENTHUSIASM RUBS OFF ON OTHERS WHEN HE PLAYS AND HE ALWAYS TURNS UP IN THE BIG GAMES AND FIGHTS FOR THE JERSEY WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN LOVE U NACHO WEE MAN ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser77 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Sorry about caps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangersFc1872 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 It's lies Why did we sign Bougherra who plays in Cuellars position Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser77 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Funny how he aint cuptied either weird how these things fall into place eh ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aird 3,810 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Funny how he aint cuptied either weird how these things fall into place eh ? It's not really, he wasn't signed in time to be registered for the qualifying round Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOLUWDC 1 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 we always have Nacho :beer2: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraser77 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Funny how he aint cuptied either weird how these things fall into place eh ? I Mean in the sense that we never played him against Kaunas i doubt his injury was tht severe So yes Really ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aird 3,810 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Wait where you talking about Cuellar? I was talking about Bougherra, its too late Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperonthewing 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 We didn't win the title with you but we will win it without you (our best and most consistent player) Aye right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOLUWDC 1 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 We didn't win the title with you but we will win it without you (our best and most consistent player) Aye right. are you saying Cuellar wasn't our best and most consistent player ? The guy was the best player in our team by miles last year, singlehandedly kept out Fiorentina. He will be missed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
macaroonba 0 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 We didn't win the title with you but we will win it without you (our best and most consistent player) Aye right. are you saying Cuellar wasn't our best and most consistent player ? The guy was the best player in our team by miles last year, singlehandedly kept out Fiorentina. He will be missed Without Cuellar, Rangers would not have got near Manchester Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosesMcNeil 1,664 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 STILL DNT BELIEVE CUELLAR WANTED OUT DNT CARE WHAT ANYONE TELLS ME Uh-huh. The days of players being punted against their will are long gone. Cuellar, if he wanted, could have finished his career at The Rangers. He obviously thinks the £40k/wk deal at Villa is worth more than actually winning prizes. Fair enough - his decision to make. But, he'll win fuck all worth anything at Villa. Mibbe a cup medal - you know the ones where the big teams like Arsenal put the youth team out to play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosesMcNeil 1,664 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Cuellar . He will be missed Not for long - there's nothing better to make supporters forget a player than telling us one minute how he loves us so much it wouldn't even enter his mind to leave; then waltzing out the door for a career in searing mid-table mediocrity five minutes later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thermopylae 15,287 Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 To be fair he was offered a more than double your money deal to stay. I found it interesting that he stressed that Villa play attacking football at his press conference ... perhaps 1 up front against Kaunas was just the last straw for him? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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