THE performance and the result was 90 minutes in the making. It took Pedro Caixinha less than six to elaborate on where it all went wrong, and why.

Just hours after taking full responsibility for Rangers’ 2-0 loss Motherwell at Hampden, the Portuguese turned the tables on his players at Auchenhowie on Monday.

This wasn’t Caixinha ranting and raving. His message was delivered deliberately as he started his press conference ahead of the visit of Kilmarnock with a detailed debrief from the Betfred Cup semi-final defeat.

For the fifth time as Rangers boss, a third successive win eluded him. Once again, Rangers failed to win when it mattered most.

“I have had time to reflect on the game, analyse it and discuss it with the players and review it,” Caixinha said.

“I only had a few hours of sleep which is usual after you lose a match, especially a match like this.

“We came to one conclusion that we shared with the players, although ultimately the responsibility always lies with me.

“They are also responsible but in a lower level, let’s say it like that.

“We have spoken before about not being able to win three games in a row and we found that the pattern is there.

“The pattern is that when the third game comes along – and normally it is a key game or a very important game like the Old Firm or a cup semi-final – the team doesn’t give you a strong response.”

Rangers have been here before on Caixinha’s watch but this latest defeat could prove one of the most costly of his tenure. Now, the goodwill from supporters is running lower than ever.

The result was the latest in the lengthy line of self-inflicted blows, while the performance was another wound for fans to try and recover from.

Caixinha added: “So we have to decide what we need to change in our work on a weekly basis.

“Motherwell performed exactly as we knew they were going to perform. We didn’t.

“We chose exactly the right contents to place on the training sessions so the players were ready to know what they were facing, although we had already played Motherwell in the first game of the season.

“We chose the right footage to show them how they play, in all aspects. We worked more than usual on defending set pieces.

“So we feel we prepared in the right way to show the players what we wanted from the game.”

Whatever the plan was, it didn’t work for Rangers. When it came to putting the theory into practice, Caixinha’s side fell short.

It is one thing being prepared physically and tactically but pulling on the Light Blue jersey presents a mental challenge that not all players can cope with.

Caixinha continued: “But from having our team meeting at the training ground and then getting to Hampden and going out on the pitch there was a huge difference from what we had been working on to the way the team played.

“I cannot control that huge difference. I can make them better tactically, I can make them more aware of the game and I can make them better physically in terms of the way we want to play the game.

“But they are not reaching that last level, the final stage of being a Rangers player and we have to keep looking forward to find that level of transfer.

“That’s why we didn’t play our game. We tried to play put from the back once and when it didn’t work we didn’t try it again.

“I have a word for that and I discussed it with the players. We cannot be afraid of winning.”

Caixinha insisted in the build-up to the Motherwell clash that there were only two options for Rangers at Hampden: win or win.

The defeat to the Steelmen has led to questions about his ability as a boss and suitability for the Ibrox hot seat. He keeps his own sense of perspective, though, and Caixinha rounded off his answer by stating: “However, in the last part of the analysis I said to the players ‘I believe in you’ because I am the one who has brought many of them here and extended the contracts of existing players.

“So I told them that this belief and conviction I have in them must lead to the standard and character of playing for Rangers knowing that we are going to be under scrutiny or what other people call pressure.

“I don’t know if I can count on the 11 who started on Sunday or not, but if I can count on them they would be the first 11 that start on Wednesday.

“Pressure is when one guy has no money by the end of the month to fulfil his responsibilities.

“He has no money to feed or to give education to his family. That is pressure.

“Playing in front of your fans in a semi-final or in other key matches needs to be something that creates ambition, passion. You play it and enjoy it rather than the opposite.”

Having addressed the issues from another big-game defeat, Caixinha must now get a response from his players when they face Kilmarnock tomorrow night.

He has critics to silence and doubters to win over. His position is being queried, but he won’t question his own ability.

Caixinha said: “That’s the way I am. And that’s the way I need to be at this club.

“Normally I lead by example. So, I want minds to do the same. That’s what we need to do. We need to do the same.

“I already give you my definition of pressure. I thank God I am not under those conditions and I hope not to be. Maybe if, one day, I am under those conditions I will feel that pressure.”