Rangers star breaks silence on infamous fan spat as he concedes impulsive gesture was 'completely unnecessary'
The Wolfsburg loanee is currently on international duty with the Czech Republic
Vaclav Cerny has finally broken his silence on his impulsive gesture aimed at Rangers fans during their Premiership win over Hibs in September - accepting he was wrong to react in the manner he did.
The Czech Republic international - who is currently on loan at Ibrox from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg - admits he has learned from his recent mistake and has reacted in the correct way by letting his football do the talking. The 27-year-old caused a storm with supporters after letting his frustrations boil over in the 1-0 league win over the Hibees at Ibrox earlier this season.
His relationship with a large section of the club’s fanbase was strained even further when Cerny missed a sitter from point-blank range against Lyon in the Europa League. The wide man then decided to delete his social media accounts, but he insists the incident has now been put to bed after bagging a couple of goals to win punters over.
In an interview with homeland publication Blesk, Cerny confessed he’s learned a valuable lesson. He admitted: “Rangers are an extremely big club, similar to what I was used to at Ajax, but maybe I would say Rangers are even bigger because the fans and the whole club have huge expectations. So when the game isn't going their way, the fans make their views very clear. But the stadium is special, especially during European games.
“They show typical British behaviour. The stands would like us to play the ball forward, so when we pass it backwards, because maybe we can't do it any other way, they tell you. It's such a simple mindset, but I don't mean it in a bad way at all. Every fan wants their team to play forward all the time.
“This season, there was a run of three games which were not good for me. Up until then, I had been an important player by scoring goals and getting assists. But then I missed chances in Malmo, I missed a big opportunity against Lyon at 0-0 and I also made a gesture towards the stands that can't be taken back. It was completely unnecessary, but the club supported me. I waved my hands towards the fans and that was my fault.
“Of course, on social media, everyone is a genius. They can say anything. It got to the point where I said enough and after a few hundred insults I said I was leaving. I deleted my social networks for a while and edited them so that almost no one could even approach me.
“It's part of football at that level. If it was just me, I don't have a problem with it - six years ago I might not have even bothered. But it affected my family, my wife and my young daughter, which is the limit for me. It was a learning experience. It was wrong of me but it's behind me.
“The gesture was completely unnecessary, but I'm so impulsive. I got beat up and then had to get the fans on my side again. So for me, it was really important that the next weekend I scored two goals and we won 2-0. Everything calmed down again, I went on a good streak.
“That was the best possible reaction. I shut my mouth and played. That's the best way to do it. After the experience I've gained from that, I'm stronger, I react better to everything. I'm more experienced.”