Rangers have 'power' to launch Celtic fightback as Ianis Hagi tipped by former star to lead resurgence

The name in his back is only four letters long but Dorin Goian suspects it must have dragged down on Ianis Hagi’s shoulders at times like a two-tonne weight.

The Rangers ace has grown up having to bear the strain of being his famous father’s son. Of course it would be unfair to compare Hagi Jnr with former Real Madrid and Barcelona great Gheorghe but he isn’t the first footballing offspring to be faced with the unrealistic expectation levels as a result of their pressurised progeny.

For every King Kenny, there is a poor Paul Dalglish who just wanted to be judged on his own merits. But former Ibrox and Romania defender Goian reckons the burden young Ianis has had to carry means he’s developed the broad shoulders required for the struggle that lies ahead as Michael Beale’s Gers look to wrestle back control of Scottish football. The playmaker is fit again after a year-long lay off and looking to break back into an Ibrox line-up that faces a fight if they are to satisfy supporter demands for silverware this term.

Celtic’s nine-point Premiership lead means retaining the Scottish Cup has taken on even great significance. Pressure and expectation is just part of the job when you sign on at Ibrox, but Goian reckons for Hagi it’s become a way of life. The ex-Gers stopper told Record Sport: “For sure Ianis gets that mentality from his father. I know exactly how Gheorghe Hagi was as a player and how Gheorghe Hagi now is as a coach. Even now, he is coaching here in Romania with a club called Farul Constanța and he wants to give all the time 100 per cent of his effort.

“I imagine he’s the same as a father and it’s no surprise that young Ianis has this same mentality. It’s been a very difficult year for Ianis because of the serious