LEE WALLACE reckons the comments and criticism that Pedro Caixinha has had to face this season wouldn’t have been directed at Celtic counterpart Brendan Rodgers.

The Portuguese has been in the spotlight this term following Rangers’ Europa League exit and a mixed start to the Premiership campaign.

Caixinha was involved in a confrontation with former Celtic striker Chris Sutton during an interview with BT Sport after the win over Ross County a fortnight ago.

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“I’m not sure,” Wallace said when asked if Caixinha would get the same level of criticism towards him if he wasn’t foreign. “I remember watching the situation you are talking about and I did feel there was a small part of that.

“I’m not sure if it was Brendan Rodgers standing next to the guys that that might have been the way that the questions were going. These guys are in these jobs for these reasons, and we will never complain about that.

“We just have to get on with it, keep fighting through that, and understand that sometimes that is the way the things go, especially being at a top club.

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“We are always ready for these kind of situations and I think the manager was quite strong and handled himself well.”

After back-to-back wins over County and Dundee, Rangers have a chance to go top of the table when they face Partick Thistle this evening.

And Wallace is confident Caixinha’s strong character will help him handle any flak that comes his way this term.

He said: “We know as players that he is very strong in his ways. He will never deviate from how he works on the training pitch.

“It is very specific to how we try to play on a Saturday. There is a real specificity in how we go from training to game and the players respond well to that.

Read more: Rangers captain Lee Wallace eyes top spot in the Premiership ahead of Partick Thistle clash​

“He understands the scrutiny here. He has adjusted quite quickly to that, having come from the culture of the different countries he has worked in.

“He knows it’s a massive club. He totally understands the scrutiny and the flak that will come his way. It has never changed him as a person.

“He’s really, really strong. He’s very good on the training ground, very good one-to-one.

“I am sure he will be happy with the way things have gone, but he also recognises that there is a long way to go.”

The pressure on Caixinha’s shoulders reached a crescendo following their Euro humiliation against Progres Niederkorn and the Portuguese has doubters to win over and critics to silence.

Read more: Derek Johnstone: There were plenty of positives for Rangers Colts against Brighton​

Caixinha has repeatedly come under fire in some quarters for his comments regarding having the best squad in Scotland.

But Wallace insists the Ibrox squad are inspired by the Portuguese’s messages as the Gers strive for success this season.

He said: “We always respect whatever the manager says and, at the same time as an aspiring coach myself, I can totally understand where the manager is coming from.

“I get where you guys take and it how you take it, which is fine, but I can totally understand that the manager is showing he has got top faith in his players as individuals and as a team. One days, we want to make sure that he is proven right.

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“It is nice and that is one thing he has got, whether it is a training day, when we watch his press conferences, the pre-match stuff, he is inspirational.

“He is very passionate and very motivated and we respond well to that. We respect what he says and we want to try and prove him right in the long run.”

*Lee Wallace was speaking at the Topps SPFL Match Attax 2017-18 trading card event. The SPFL Match Attax Starter Pack retails at £5.00 and includes a collector binder, double play pitch, a game guide, and a six card packet containing an exclusive gold limited edition card. Available at all good retailers.