I’LLBETOUGH IFCALLEDFOR
FROM BACK PAGE Ibrox club’s 17th permanent boss after putting pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal to become Steven Gerrard’s successor.
But van Bronckhorst’s appointment came less than 24 hours after he watched his new team being humiliated by Hibs at Hampden in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final.
The 3-1 rout led to vice-captain Connor Goldson admitting too many of his team-mates have lost their hunger for winning trophies.
And the Dutchman – who described himself as a disciplinarian – then insisted he’ll crack the whip if he believes there are players hiding in his dressing room who have lost their desire to succeed.
Van Bronckhorst said: “I expect that everyone is on board with me. It’s my duty to prepare players for games. I will prepare them in their attitude, their hunger, whatever.
“For me, as a coach and a player, I think the hunger has to come from within yourself.
“It starts with that. That would make it a lot easier as a coach.
“Being involved in football all my life, I know what needs to be done and what you have to do to be successful.
“That message I got across as a coach from when I started. I will keep doing that. If something or some player thinks otherwise, they will have a tough manager in me.”
Van Bronckhorst revealed he plans to talk to Gerrard over the coming weeks as he familiarises himself with a squad built by the previous boss.
But he’s seen enough already to identify weaknesses that he plans to urgently address.
He added: “I’ve seen footage of the team and games they have played this season. It’s a great squad, they won the league last year.
“In the second year, to be champions is more difficult. But we are still in a good place. Of course we are not happy with the result on Sunday. We can see some things I want to change and we have to be better at.
“But my first meeting with the players will be tomorrow. It’s better to tell them first and look them in their eyes, to make sure that from tomorrow on, we do everything to be successful with this club.
“That’s my goal, that’s my ambition. That’s the message I want to get through to the players.”
Van Bronckhorst also confirmed the identity of his backroom team who will help him complete a Dutch takeover of Auchenhowie today.
As first revealed by Record Sport, fitness guru Arno Philips and video analyst Yori Bosschaart have signed up along with Roy Makaay.
The new boss, who wants to make at least one further addition to his staff, said: “I’ve brought some staff with me I used to work with. Roy Makaay, who will be a first-team coach, he will especially be looking to work with the strikers.
“Yori Bosschaart is my analyst who knows the way I want to play and train and who is helping me in that department.
“Arno Philips is the one who will take the physical training sessions.
“I think it’s huge to bring some backroom staff I know. There is already a big backroom staff at the club – very good people, very professional. So in that way it’s a good mix.”