VACLAV CERNY has never played over Christmas before.
But the Czech attacker insists he’s far happier chasing the gift of three points against St Mirren than he is playing Santa.
Vaclav Cerny scored the winner for Rangers against St Mirren[/caption]
Cerny has never played at Christmas before[/caption]
Cerny trained with his Rangers team-mates then celebrated with family on Christmas Eve, as is the custom in his homeland.
He is used to lengthy winter breaks over the festive season from his time at home and playing in Holland and Germany — so this is a new experience for him.
And with Rangers back in the groove following their bleak early winter — and having narrowed the gap on leaders Celtic to nine points ahead of next week’s derby at Ibrox — the 27-year-old is glad the games are continuing to come thick and fast.
The on-loan Wolfsburg winger said: “It’s a nice period because this will be the first time I have played over Christmas. I’m looking forward to it.
“During my ten years in Holland, there was always a winter break. And I enjoyed it in the Czech Republic too.
“It was the same in the Bundesliga, so this is the first year there has been no Christmas break for me.
“We have these conversations every day but my wife understands. We have family coming over and you need to find a way to make it nice for the family as well.
“But it’s the job I have and, personally, I am looking forward to it.
“For me, Christmas is on the 24th. I know you guys here have it on the 25th, but for us in Czech the tradition is the 24th of December.”
Including the Europa League, Premier Sports Cup final and a hectic league schedule, Rangers have eight matches in December and another nine in January.
Cerny is unaccustomed to such a packed run of games, but knows that’s what is required playing for a big club in British football.
Despite the physical and mental toll playing every three or four days can have, Cerny insists it also motivates him by being asked to go through such a gruelling holiday season.
He said: “The schedule is very tough, so as players we just have to be very focused on our recovery.
“We have to keep this flow because the team is doing well and we’re fit.
“We need every single player from the squad because it’s really tiring. The body needs to be ready for it.
“In the end, that’s what you want because you want to go as far as possible in every competition you play. It’s what you want, of course, but it’s also tough.”
Cerny struck the only goal of the game straight after half-time in the weekend win over Dundee which saw Rangers jump above Aberdeen into second.
And while Celtic remain in control of the title race, Gers at least have something to aim for when the Glasgow rivals meet for the second time in the league this season a week today.
Cerny is the man Rangers have relied on for an attacking spark this season — his ten goals so far marking him out as their key signing from the summer.
The former FC Twente and Ajax star is happy with how things have gone for him since his arrival from the Bundesliga, but he still wants more.
He said: “It has been going great and I just want to continue with that.
“Most importantly, we are in a good flow as a team now, so let’s keep that going.
“It was very important for us to get a win over Dundee and get back on track by winning games. That was the main thing.
“It wasn’t difficult for us to move on from the cup final defeat because ultimately we are professionals.
“We know that every game is very important, which is true.
“The disappointment was there, a very big one, but in football you need to move on quickly.
“We have done that. There are other games, two important games, before we play Celtic again.
“So let’s focus on those games before the other one.
“For us, they are two big games in a very tight schedule.
“Everybody in the dressing-room feels the same way.
“We need to be ready for the two big games before that one on January 2.”
Rangers boss Philippe Clement moved to bring Cerny to Ibrox from the fringes of the Wolfsburg squad and recently told how much the forward is loving his new lease of life in Glasgow.
The man himself feels he owes the Belgian a debt of gratitude for giving him a chance to shine at a club like Gers on a one-year loan.
And after the welcome he has received since moving to Scotland — from his team-mates and Gers supporters — he’s eager to repay them for that faith with more positive performances.
He added: “My form is very much down to the manager. The relationship I have with him is great.
“I said before the talk I had with him helped me so much and we have continued to do that.
“I want to do everything to give it back to him, the boys in the team and the club.
“Since I got here I have enjoyed it so much, even with the ups and downs a few months ago.
“My only job this year is to give everything to this club, the manager and to those guys.”
