- Leanne Crichton said Celtic’s deep defensive shape made Rangers’ task harder but not decisive in defeat.
- Rangers abandoned their identity in possession, leading to frantic and low-quality attacking phases.
- Boss stressed decision-making failures and called for improvement despite sustained pressure and numerical advantage.
Rangers Women manager Leanne Crichton admitted her side “abandoned their identity” in the closing stages of their Scottish Cup final defeat to Celtic at Hampden, as the Ibrox side’s trophyless season was confirmed.
Celtic’s 1-0 victory, which ended Rangers’ 11-game unbeaten Old Firm run, came despite periods of sustained pressure from Crichton’s side. Who were left frustrated by a lack of clear-cut chances and decision-making in key moments.
Leanne Crichton on Rangers losing identity
Reflecting on the match, Crichton felt Rangers allowed the game to drift into a frantic, low-quality contest after ten-player Celtic dropped deeper to protect their lead.
“That doesn’t necessarily make it easier,” she said. “Naturally, Celtic drop off the game and decide that they’re going to camp in and try and see it out.
“So, it becomes more difficult to break that down. But what’s more frustrating is that we probably abandon our identity in terms of how we want to move the ball and the way that we feel we can create chances.”
Crichton suggested that Rangers became too direct in their search for an equaliser. Particularly after Emma Lawton’s dismissal for Grant Scott’s side, with the quality of their attacking play suffering as a result.
“When it becomes forced and it becomes frantic. The quality of the chances are not considered for me high quality chances,” she lamented.
Despite the numerical advantage late on, Rangers were unable to find a breakthrough, with Crichton admitting her side were “caught short” in key moments.
“I just felt the decision-making for us just wasn’t there,” she said.
The ‘silver lining’ of European football
Looking ahead, Crichton accepted the disappointment of finishing the season without silverware, but stressed the need to quickly reset and use the experience as a foundation for improvement.
“You get three cracks at it this season in terms of two cup finals and a last-day shootout. We’ve fallen short on those three occasions,” she said.
“But there’s a silver lining amongst that. We’ve got European football. Pre-season is going to be massive and really important.
“We’re on the front foot in terms of recruitment. We’ll make the group stronger next season.”
Leanne Crichton urges Rangers to use final scenes as motivation
Crichton also highlighted the emotional toll of seeing Celtic lift the trophy but insisted that such moments should be used as motivation rather than regret.
“Nobody wants to stand pitch-side and watch our biggest rival lift silverware,” she said.
“That will be their lasting memory now of the season and it’s how they digest that.”
While acknowledging the disappointment of a season without trophies, Crichton struck a defiant tone, insisting the group will return stronger.
“It’ll make us better,” she said. “We’re Rangers and we want to win trophies. That’s the reality.”
Readrangers.com analysis – Jack Cranmer
Despite the overall failure of the campaign. Crichton has a credible case for being afforded a second season at Rangers, largely because the conditions she has worked under so far do not reflect a stable managerial platform.
Her first campaign has been shaped by transition rather than consolidation. Arriving late in pre-season meant she effectively inherited a squad already part-way through formation.
One with which she had limited opportunity to imprint her tactical model during pre-season
That instability was compounded by significant squad turnover prior to her arrival. The loss of key players disrupted both the technical balance and leadership core of the group, leaving gaps that could not realistically be addressed in a single year.
As a result, Rangers have at times lacked the control required in tight matches, particularly when opponents sit in a low block or when game states become emotionally charged.
Despite that, there are clear signs of intent in how her side attempt to play. Rangers have generally sought to dominate possession phases, build through structured circulation, and create through coordinated movement rather than direct play.
Importantly, Crichton has also demonstrated clarity in reflection and accountability, openly acknowledging where decision-making and execution have fallen short. That level of internal honesty, combined with a clear recruitment plan and a full pre-season ahead, provides a rational basis for expecting improvement.
Given the context, a second season is not a reward, it is the point at which the project can fairly be judged on its own terms.
