Glasgow City & Rangers seek cup cheer after title frustration

One could call it the Consolation Cup final. Neither Glasgow City or Rangers would thank you for it though.

Both teams had their eyes on the ultimate prize – the SWPL league title, but Hibernian beat them to it.

That blow was cushioned for City, who finished second to earn a place in Champions League qualifying. No such reward for Rangers in third.

Yet a Scottish Cup win for Rangers at Hampden on Sunday would secure a second successive cup double. No mean feat.

A trophy and a Champions League place would, by most metrics, be judged a good season for City.

“This club is synonymous with lifting trophies,” said City head coach Leanne Ross. “It’s something that we pride ourselves on in terms of being in the last stages of competitions and being up there fighting right until the end. So, of course, any trophy lift is special.

“The Scottish Cup in itself is a special competition, especially to the Scottish players and staff. It’s something that we’ve grown up with and the fact that we’re now able to play at the national stadium as well just adds a little bit more excitement.”

Ross acknowledges both teams will be “very disappointed” after missing out on the title to surprise victors Hibs.

“It was a tight fight between all the teams in that top half of the table,” she said. “It was a difficult season and obviously neither of us have reached the objective of winning the title.

“The next best thing for us was obviously that second place and guaranteed European football. So, yes, we’ve come out on top there. But there’s still disappointment within our camp.”

Having spent many hours pouring over footage of the 1-0 defeat by Hibs at Ibrox that ultimately scuppered Rangers’ championship bid, head coach Jo Potter says looking forward to the final has saved them from what would have been an “horrendous week”.

Potter explained: “We can’t make up for what happened in the league. We don’t shy away from that. Yes, there was a big trophy on the line and we didn’t manage to turn up and get that one over the line.

“If we’d have won a treble, I’d have said that would have been unreal, It would have been out of this world. We were so close, but it wasn’t meant to be. So we’ve got to make sure that we’re going after a cup double. We’ve got three trophies in under two years right now, and we want another one.

“Switching our mindset from the agony of defeat and losing a league title to try and go on and win another cup final is night and day.”