TALKING RANGERS
THE hard work has been done but the job is only just beginning for Rangers. The focus has switched from Orlando to the Highlands, from the Florida Cup to the Scottish Cup.
Graeme Murty’s side rounded off their time in the United States with victory over Corinthians on Saturday and will discover in the coming days if that result, plus the win against Atletico Mineiro on Thursday, will be enough to land them the silverware.
It is the quest for a winner’s medal at Hampden that is at the forefront of their minds once again, however, as attentions turn to the fourthround tie with Fraserburgh this weekend.
After spending time training at the IMG Academy, Rangers took to the field at the Orlando City Stadium and Spectrum Stadium and passed their two Brazilian tests.
But defender David Bates believes the time off the park and away from the training pitch has been just as important for the Light Blues squad in recent days.
He said: “The whole thing has been really good. The facilities we had were brilliant so let’s hope it sets us up for a good season ahead.
“The first few days i n training, the gaffer gave us an idea of how he wants us to play. You can see that in the games.
“He wants us to keep the ball and play out from the back. He has put a real good stamp on it.
“We did a few bonding activities like going to the ice hockey. You might not think it, but it makes us a lot closer together so that, when we go out on the pitch, we are more resilient.
“Getting 45 minutes was really good. It wasn’t too hot [on Saturday], but the other night it was hot. Not very good for gingers, but good for the team.
“It was a really good workout for us. In the first half, they had a lot of key players. They brought on a few younger boys in the second half, but you could see that with us as well.”
THE Florida Cup action was Rangers’ first game time since they ended the first half of the Premiership campaign with a goalless draw at Parkhead last month.
It was the latest in a string of impressive big-match performances from Murty’s side but their efforts against the top teams in the league have continually been undermined by a series of slack performances and costly results elsewhere.
And Bates knows the Gers must hit the heights on a more regular basis if they are to take steps in the right direction in the coming months.
He said: “It [the Celtic game]