Wallace sees smiling team of nations and knows Rangers are in good shape
AS the captain of a multi-national Rangers dressing room, there are times when language is of minimal use to Lee Wallace.
Colleagues who are working daily on improving their English — to use alongside Spanish or Portuguese native tongues — are unlikely to give much in the way of detailed feedback that makes sense to his ears.
That doesn’t mean, however, that Wallace can’t identify satisfaction in the stability gained by successive Premiership wins. No words are required there.
At the start of a crucial eight-day period leading to the first Old Firm game of the season, the left-back detects a fresh optimism within Pedro Caixinha’s squad.
‘There is more confidence for sure,’ said Wallace, comparing the situation with a month ago. ‘I can see that in the players’ eyes.
‘I can see it in their performances as well. The last two games have not been perfect. We know that there are things we need to work on, things within our style.
‘We want to strive for perfection and get those bits right but there is no doubt we are feeling better. We are at a good level.
‘We are coming in with a smile on our faces. That’s just natural. If you go the other way, it’s not so much the case.
‘It won’t stop the hard work. But the general demeanour is that we are a bit more positive and there is a stronger spring in our step.
‘Within the squad, we are dealing with guys who are learning the language. They are getting English lessons every day. For them, it is about getting used to the city, getting their families across.
‘I can see by looking at them that physically they are getting stronger. There is a long way to go before we’re happy as a team but we are getting to where we need to be.’
While victories over Ross County and Dundee were hugely welcome after a distinctly awkward start to the season, harsher tests now approach. Rangers’ progress will be more reliably gauged once they are passed.
Caixinha’s side face Partick Thistle in the Premiership this evening before returning to Firhill four days later for a Betfred Cup quarter-final.
Those assignments provide a Glaswegian prelude to Celtic entering Ibrox for the first time since delivering a 5-1 hammering in April.
That fixture, a week tomorrow, looms in the eye-line of all associated with Rangers. But Wallace knows it cannot be focused upon. Not yet.
Dropping points against Thistle would drain so much of the recent momentum. If, however, a four-goal victory could be summoned, they would sit top of the Premiership until tomorrow’s fixtures.
‘There are good incentives,’ said Wallace. ‘While there is a lot of football to be played, it’s a nice sight, especially from where we have come and everything last year, and how strong our main rivals are.
‘But we recognise how hard the games are. We have an opponent motivated to try to get their first win in the league. We will be aware of that but at the same time we will be going there with excitement.
‘Ultimately, it is about getting a winning run going. We didn’t do that anywhere near often enough last year. We will try to keep the momentum going.
‘Everything we are talking about — the boys feeling well, smiling, training well — we need to continue that by winning games.
‘They are two tough matches, Friday and Tuesday. And obviously we have got the big one at the back of that.’
Wallace retained the armband at Ibrox despite the summer arrival of some significant personalities, not least Bruno Alves. The influence of the 35-year-old Portugal defender is one he draws upon.
‘I’ve tried to act and behave as I always have done as captain of this club,’ said Wallace.
‘I’m fortunate enough that I’ve got older, more experienced guys around me, too.
‘We have Bruno who can speak with the Portuguese and Spanish speakers, too.
‘I am always happy to welcome a new player, show him around the training ground and get him used to the training ground habits.
‘On the pitch, they are making the right steps. Their football language — if you like — has been good.
‘Alfredo Morelos is a natural finisher and that stood out from the very beginning. In the drills we were doing in training, every shot was hitting the back of the net. But all the boys are working very hard.’
Caixinha provides an animated form of leadership at the head of the group. Wallace smiled when recalling the stick he received from the touchline during the Ross County victory.
‘I was in a bit tight to (Michael) Gardyne and I totally took his point on board,’ added the 30-year-old.
‘They were looking most likely to score at that moment of the game from free-kicks into the box.
‘We respond well to how he is in training and his behaviour is the same from training to match. It is really consistent and we all take inspiration from that.
‘Growing up at Hearts, we had a lot of strong characters. Going back ten years, the way to maybe manage players was to go at them full whack.
‘The next cycle then came in and that is how I try to captain the lads here.
‘I think I have got not a bad grasp of people’s body language and what they respond to best. Some players might need the arm round the shoulder and for you to be a bit easier with your communication. There is no right or wrong way.
‘The manager has got a bit of both and he will have his own understanding of who responds best to what situation. I think we have got a good balance.’
Lee Wallace was speaking at the Topps SPFL Match Attax 2017-18 trading card event. The SPFL Match Attax Starter Pack retails at £5 and is available now.