Sunday Mail (UK)

MEXICAN HANDS OFF

Don’t moan about foreign imports flooding into Ibrox..just prove you’re better players than them

- SAYS KENNY MILLER Gordon Waddell

Kenny Miller would love a new-look Rangers side to boast a British core.

But as Pedro Caixinha’s Ibrox revolution gathers speed with an influx of foreigners – he has urged the current crop to prove they’re better.

Even at 37, Miller isn’t about to surrender his first-team jersey easily to Alfredo Morelos or Eduardo Herrera.

That’s why he’s not interested in listening to anyone at Gers compla in about impor ts arriving from abroad.

After a poor showing in the Premiershi­p last season, Miller expected massive changes at the club.

And with several players’ futures up in the air, the veteran striker has told them to prove their gaffer wrong.

So far, Caixinha has added Bruno Alves, Fabio Cardoso, Dalcio, and Daniel Candeias to his ranks – with Morelos, Herrera and Carlos Pena set to follow once visas and work permits are sorted.

And the likes of Rob Kiernan, Harry Forrester, Joe Garner, Michael O’Hal loran, Josh Windass and Matt Crooks could all be on their way out of Ibrox.

Miller insists it’s vital that Rangers maintain a Scottish or British identity – but says it’s up to the homegrown players to show they’re good enough to stay.

He said: “They have to prove they’re better.

“If somebody wants to come in and take my place then they’re going to have to be better than me.

“And I’m not going to allow that to happen easily.

“If you come in and prove you’re better, you’ve got the jersey. If you don’t, you won’t. Some people might be saying, ‘we’re bringing this guy in who plays in my position’. Well, just be better.

“You’re at a big club, every season there’s going to be new players brought in. If it’s in your position, you’ll have to be better than him.

“You have to show that you’re better equipped to do that role. You can’t mump and moan because we’re signing players.

“If you look at the balance of the signings so far, there isn’t really a Scottish core.

“We need to try and keep a level of British and Scottish players, who know what’s required to play here.

“But in saying that, they have to be good enough.

“Clearly, we needed to sign better players, going by how far Dalcio. Portuguese centre-back Cardoso, snapped up from Vitoria Setubal for £1.3million, has particular­ly impressed the frontman.

And he’s convinced that with the likes of Alves currently starring at the Confederat­ions Cup in Russia – Rangers will be in a better position next season to challenge Celtic.

Miller said: “We all know Ryan, we know what he’s about. He has settled in pretty well.

“He’s still a young lad so he’ll look to improve here and kick on to the next level. I’m sure he has aspiration­s to play for the national team.

“Coming here and playing well for this club will definitely lead to that if he gets a starting slot.

“Fabio has come in and had a great 10 days. He speaks well, he leads, he demands and for a young lad he’s very vocal . Already, we can all see the attributes he has.

“Dalcio’s English isn’t as good as Fabio’s

so he’s f inding it a wee bit harder to communicat­e with the lads.

“But as long as the manager gets the message across to him of what he expects, he should be okay. You can see his threat and the quality he’ll bring.

“It has been very positive so far. Obviously Bruno is playing at the Confederat­ions Cup and I don’t think many people will have any doubts about him.

“He’s a well known figure in football and he should be a big signing for us.

“Hopefully the others will be in soon enough. There’s no doubt we need to improve the quality of the squad if we want to close the gap on Celtic.

“There was a huge points difference last season even to Aberdeen. So for us to be far more competitiv­e we needed better players.

“The manager has to assemble a squad which he thinks has the right balance and quality within it. We need the right characters to sustain a challenge. “But the level of player we’re after shows an awareness of what we need to take us back to a higher position.” Miller didn’t get much of a break over the summer and admit s after a week away he was itching to get star ted again. But Caixinha’s side wi l l be thrust into competitiv­e action right away in the Europa League qualifiers. The first-round draw will be made tomorrow and Miller says the team’s return is the next part in the club’s recovery process since 2012.

And unlike most clubs back in Europe after a f ive- year absence, he knows they’ll be expected to hit the ground running.

Miller, whose last Euro game was for Gers against Bursaspor in the Champions League, said: “Ultimately, we want to back at that top level but there’s a lot of hard work required to achieve that, starting with the Europa qualifiers.

“If we want to reach the group stages we’re going to have to do it the hard way.

“That first game back will be great. It’s all part of the process, another small step in getting us back to where we want to be.

“And it’s harder for us in the respect that we need to win these qualifying games. If we lose a pre- season friendly, it doesn’t matter.

“But in these Europa ties, we need to win. You don’t get a second chance if you underperfo­rm or get a poor result.

“So it’s important that we’re on the ball and ready to go.

“With the new boys coming in, there will be a language barrier so getting a message across will be an issue.

“Communicat­ion in the team is key. So that will have to be addressed. But if there’s an understand­ing of what we’re trying to do, if we’re all on the same page, it’ll make it a lot easier.

“Some teams gel rapidly, with others it takes longer.

“Is it ideal bringing in 10 new players? No, it’s not. But if that’s what the manager feels is right at this time, we have to roll with it and make it work.”

 ??  ?? JONNY Hoops dreams back we were in the league last season.” Caixinha will certainly get that and Miller’s already had a good look at three of the new recruits in Ryan Jack, Cardoso and
JONNY Hoops dreams back we were in the league last season.” Caixinha will certainly get that and Miller’s already had a good look at three of the new recruits in Ryan Jack, Cardoso and
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 ??  ?? DANIEL CANDEIAS
DANIEL CANDEIAS
 ??  ?? DALCIO
DALCIO
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 ??  ?? HE WON’T LEG IT Kenny Miller is ready to fight for his place at Gers after seeing a host of new faces come in SCHOOL AND THE GANG hitman Miller promotes Gers’ Summer School for youngsters SHOPPING SPREE boss Pedro Caixinha has brought in a number of...
HE WON’T LEG IT Kenny Miller is ready to fight for his place at Gers after seeing a host of new faces come in SCHOOL AND THE GANG hitman Miller promotes Gers’ Summer School for youngsters SHOPPING SPREE boss Pedro Caixinha has brought in a number of...

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