Rangers loanee quizzed on transfer future after impressing so far
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Vaclav Cerny is looking like one of the best pieces of business done by Rangers in the summer.
The Czech winger has six goals and five assists since moving to Ibrox on loan from Wolfsburg in the summer.
A left-footer playing on the right wing, the 27-year-old is arguably the most creative outlet in the side and also one of the biggest goal threats.
After scoring a beauty against Motherwell at Hampden on his first start, his form stalled in and there was also a slight run in with fans.
But that has been consigned to the past now and Cerny is back firing on all cylinders.
Cerny speaks on future
The wide man is performing well at the minute and certainly looks like someone who the club would and should be looking to tie down longer term if possible.
There is not believed to an option to buy as part of the loan deal but that certainly doesn’t rule anything out, although he is contracted to Wolfsburg until 2027 (Transfermarkt).
Indeed, Rangers were reportedly quoted £3.8million to land Cerny permanently and that would certainly seem doable.
He would of course have to want the move himself and does seem to be enjoying his time in Glasgow after getting over that slight blip.
Quizzed on what the future might hold, Cerny has given an honest answer.
He told Czech outlet Blesk: “I am supposed to return to Wolfsburg after this season, but honestly, I’m only focused on this campaign, Rangers’ success and my own.
“I want to have the best season of my career in terms of goals and assists. And then we’ll see. Of course I have a plan, but there’s no point talking about it yet.”
Rangers might be nine points behind Celtic and Aberdeen in the league but the former Ajax man has not given up hope.
“Unfortunately, in the past few years we have not matched Celtic and now we are nine points behind them, which the fans don’t take positively,” he added.
“But the season is still long, nothing is lost yet. Plus, we’re in the League Cup Final, which is good.”
What Cerny said about Rangers fan clash
Cerny also addressed that issue with fans when he reacted with a gesture after a glaring Europa League miss against Lyon brought murmurs from the stand.
He had also missed a big chance against Malmo but his relationship with the support has been quickly mended.
He added: “Rangers are an extremely big club, similar to what I was used to at Ajax, but maybe I would say Rangers are even bigger because the fans and the whole club have huge expectations.
“So when the game isn’t going their way, the fans make their views very clear. But the stadium is special, especially during European games.
“They show typical British behaviour. The stands would like us to play the ball forward, so when we pass it backwards, because maybe we can’t do it any other way, they tell you. It’s such a simple mindset, but I don’t mean it in a bad way at all. Every fan wants their team to play forward all the time.
“This season, there was a run of three games which were not good for me. Up until then, I had been an important player by scoring goals and getting assists. But then I missed chances in Malmo, I missed a big opportunity against Lyon at 0-0 and I also made a gesture towards the stands that can’t be taken back. It was completely unnecessary, but the club supported me. I waved my hands towards the fans and that was my fault.
“Of course, on social media, everyone is a genius. They can say anything. It got to the point where I said enough and after a few hundred insults I said I was leaving. I deleted my social networks for a while and edited them so that almost no one could even approach me.
“It’s part of football at that level. If it was just me, I don’t have a problem with it – six years ago I might not have even bothered. But it affected my family, my wife and my young daughter, which is the limit for me. It was a learning experience. It was wrong of me but it’s behind me.
“The gesture was completely unnecessary, but I’m so impulsive. I got beat up and then had to get the fans on my side again. So for me, it was really important that the next weekend I scored two goals and we won 2-0. Everything calmed down again, I went on a good streak.
“That was the best possible reaction. I shut my mouth and played. That’s the best way to do it. After the experience I’ve gained from that, I’m stronger, I react better to everything. I’m more experienced.”
