UNDER STARTER’S ORDERS!
Gio hopes for lift-off as he leads Rangers into battle for first time as head coach
THE first steps have been taken in a new era at Rangers. Two days of training could not possibly have imprinted all of Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s ideas on this inherited squad, but the process is underway.
Van Bronckhorst talks of a positive reception. He believes the players can see what he will demand of them as the Ibrox side look to move away from Sunday’s bleak defeat against Hibs and towards a brighter looking future.
While the 46-year-old Dutchman’s heart might flutter a little when he steps into the Ibrox technical area for the first time tonight, he is not one to become overwhelmed by the emotion of such an occasion. Clear thinking is required.
He knows this stadium can become something magical on a European night. Find a performance that harnesses the power of a crowd eager to hail his return and Sparta Prague could be blown away.
That will only be possible, though, if Rangers can resolve the numerous issues witnessed at the weekend when Van Bronckhorst watched from the Hampden stands.
Defensive fragility, a lack of leadership and a punchless attack did not make for a happy mixture. It’s a lot for the new man to tackle but the ground rules are being set. Unity, mental focus and relentless hard work being high among them.
Some tactical tweaks have also been laid out. As have firm reminders of just what it will take to win silverware over the next six months.
‘It’s a very short time — only two days to train with the players,’ said Van Bronckhorst. ‘But I think they can already sense the things I want to change and what is needed to become successful again.
‘Not only on the pitch but also the way we behave as a team and the way we have to be prepared mentally.
‘You cannot do everything in two days. I need more time. But step by step, I’m sure the players will understand the way I work and the way I want to play.
‘I have a certain way of working. There are certain things I expect and want from my players.
‘It’s not maybe different. I don’t know how previous managers worked. (Steven) Gerrard worked in a certain way, I work in a certain way.
‘But I demand that we play as a team and are doing everything we can to play as a team, whether it is defending or attacking.
‘We need to be prepared. We have our tasks. The players have their tasks on the pitch, they know.
‘We talked a lot about it in the last couple of days and now we need to execute it and make sure we are ready for Sparta Prague.
‘I think they are ready. It’s a new start for them as well, with me coming in as the new manager.
‘Of course they were disappointed with the result at the weekend but all we do is look positively towards the game we play tomorrow.
‘They work hard, they look very fresh and sharp. So we are well prepared for the game. We go for a good result at home because we want to still be in Europe after Christmas. That’s our main objective.’
Having lost 1-0 in Prague in late September, Rangers know victory by two or more goals would secure a place in the knockout rounds.
How Van Bronckhorst goes about achieving that aim will carry obvious fascination.
He yesterday pledged we would ‘definitely see some changes’ from Sunday. Whether that’s realised in terms of personnel, set-up or a bit of both remains to be seen.
Then there’s the issue of attitude. Connor Goldson’s comments about this squad losing some of its ‘hunger’ in the wake of last season’s title triumph provided an unwelcome narrative for Van Bronckhorst to counteract at the start of his tenure.
Asked if he had spoken to Goldson, the Ibrox boss said: ‘Of course. It is obvious that the team wasn’t happy and wasn’t in a good place on Sunday.
‘I think it was quite an emotional
I think they are ready for Sparta. It’s a new start for them as well as me
game for the team and the club, being out of the cup after the game.
‘For me, the most important thing is to look forward. If you might feel that as a player, you need to keep the hunger, keep the desire, you have to work hard and that is what I demand from day one. So far it has been really good.
‘The most important thing is that you want to be a better team, a better player in the coming days, weeks, months, years and that is what you have to do being part of this club.
‘That is what I also demand from all my players. I am looking forward to working with the players also in that aspect for the next months because so far this season we haven’t won anything.
‘We are the champions last year, which was a great performance from everyone, but this year is a new year and we have to be there, have to be ready and have to be fully focused for the games that come.’
A rousing European victory would be the perfect way to begin.
Van Bronckhorst had a few of those in his three years as a Rangers player, none more so than a 2-0 win over Parma in 1999 that was sealed by goals from Tony Vidmar and Claudio Reyna.
‘The Parma game we had, qualification for the Champions League, was a very good experience,’ reflected the former Holland midfielder.
‘We qualified for the group stages against a Parma team full of international stars.
‘For me, it was one of the best nights that I had with Rangers. Of course, also playing against the likes of Bayern Munich, Monaco, which we want to have.
‘At that time we could compete with the top clubs and that was good for us as players, as a team and, of course, for the club as well. Good memories in Europe.’
Two decades after his last game on the pitch for Rangers, it’s now Van Bronckhorst’s job to create another night worth remembering from this fresh vantage point on the sidelines.