IT is said that a week is a long time in football. The last twelve months will feel like a lifetime ago for Rangers.

The man on the touchline has changed, while the new faces have failed to deliver and the familiar ones have struggled to live up to that glory day at Hampden. The prize at stake is still the same, though, as the Light Blues prepare for another derby duel.

There was hope but little expectation ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final with Celtic last April but the odds and their Old Firm rivals were overcome.

It was the victory that could have been the springboard to success for Rangers. Instead, it has been an opportunity missed. Time may have passed, but progress hasn’t been made.

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The Light Blues are no closer to overhauling Celtic than they were this time last year and former boss Stuart McCall knows there can’t be another false dawn at Ibrox now that Pedro Caixinha is at the helm.

“Everyone thought last season when we beat Celtic in the semi-final that it was a foothold and they could build on it,” he told SportTimes.

“But they haven’t really built as strongly as they would have hoped and some of the players that have come in haven’t produced as the club would have hoped.

“It is about getting good players in but they also need the right mentality and sometimes you don’t know that until they are in the building.

“You can do all the homework you want, but everyone who works at Rangers, be it management, coach or player, have got to be aware that second is really nothing.

“It certainly won’t be in the next couple of years. You have got to be able to take that pressure.

“It is just not acceptable. This season there is a slight bit of tolerance, but I don’t think there will next year. Everyone will be expecting a lot stronger challenge.”

There is no reason why Rangers can’t emerge victorious at Hampden this weekend but the outcome of 90 minutes of action doesn’t alter the challenge that faces Caixinha. The 33-point gap in the Premiership tells its own story.

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The Portuguese will be given money to spend in the summer as he attempts to bolster his Gers ranks ahead of a return to European action and second crack at the Premiership.

Supporters aren’t expecting to see a string of multi-million pound talents paraded at Ibrox but McCall knows Caixinha must shop smart as he strives for improvement this summer.

He said: “Celtic have been so strong. Brendan Rodgers didn’t bring that many players in, although they were the two key ones in (Scott) Sinclair and (Moussa) Dembele.

“He has got the best out of them and given the club a huge boost and Rangers will be hoping that Pedro can do the same.

“It is not about Rangers spending money that they have not got, because we don’t want to go back to those days. But the team and the club does need investment.

“It is not always about money, but if you want to be serious about stopping Celtic rolling on to title after title, there has to be fresh investment in the club.

“That is not saying go and spend money that we haven’t got. If you want the better players, you have got to pay for them.

“Recruitment is key and when you haven’t got millions and millions it is huge because you have to get it right. For a manager, the two most important things are recruitment and man management.

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“Once you have got your squad, it is about getting the best out of what you have got to work with. If there isn’t a lot of money there, you have to use all your managerial talent to build a squad.

“Finance is huge, especially when you are up against Celtic when they have got the Champions League money and they are building.”

Victory over Rodgers’ side would be the biggest result of Caixinha’s Rangers reign so far and a timely shot in the arm for a squad that have been far from good enough this term.

The Portuguese already has a victory over Aberdeen to his credit and now he has a chance to win over more of his doubters following his switch from Al-Gharafa.

And McCall hopes the Light Blues can end a disappointing season on a high note to give them grounds for optimism for next term.

He said: “I thought against Aberdeen the first half performance was good and they had the better chances and then Aberdeen came strong.

“That result should give them a big confidence boost. For the support it was great and for the manager, having just gone in there, to go and put a statement down and win 3-0 at Aberdeen can only do him good.

“It will be interesting and Celtic will still be strong favourites because they have had an outstanding season. It is certainly one to look forward to.

“Everyone knew this season Rangers had to do as well as they could, but realistically it was always going to be a settling in season.

“Next year, Rangers fans will be demanding to give Celtic a run for their money, and the players should demand it from themselves.

“That might be easier said than done because Celtic have a financial advantage but Rangers should be looking to mount a stronger challenge.”