My wife understands – Vaclav Cerny relishing first taste of festive football

Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny is looking forward to an unusually busy festive period for him with the help of an understanding family.

The Czech Republic international, on loan from German side Wolfsburg, scored the only goal of the game in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Dundee to take the Light Blues into second place in the William Hill Premiership table.

Philippe Clement’s side travel to St Mirren on Boxing Day before facing Motherwell at Fir Park on December 29 and then begin the new year with a January 2 home game against Old Firm rivals Celtic, who are currently nine points ahead of Rangers.

With no winter break for the top flight in Scotland this season, the season continues apace in 2025 and former Ajax, Utrecht and Twente player Cerny, who has scored 10 goals this season, said:  “It’s a nice period because this will be the first time I have played over Christmas and I’m looking forward to it.

“During my 10 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, you need to find a way to make it nice for the family as well.

“But it’s the job and, personally, I am looking forward to it.

“For me, Christmas is on the 24th, I know it is the 25th for you guys here but for us in Czech the tradition, it is the 24th of December.

“So I will just enjoy a quick session and spend the rest of the day with my family.

“The schedule is very tough, so 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. 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 but it’s also tough.”