The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Former Arsenal star Senderos hopes to prove his worth to Rangers
Philippe Senderos may be Rangers newest recruit, but he is already aware of age-old Ibrox expectations.
The Swiss centre-back signed a one-year deal on transfer deadline day after impressing on trial at the Govan club.
The Light Blues, under Mark Warburton, are back in the Ladbrokes Premiership for the first time in four years, but will be judged against old foes Celtic, who are looking to win their sixth successive Ladbrokes Premiership title.
Asked what he would like to achieve in the season ahead, the 31-year-old former Arsenal defender said: “Hopefully play as many games as possible and help Rangers do as well as possible, which is hopefully win the title.
“We know the expectation about this football club is to come first, so we are going to work as hard as we do out on the training pitch, try to replicate it at the weekend and win as many games as possible.
“This is the first season back in the Ladbrokes Premiership, we know the expectation about Rangers is very high.
“We know the challenge is very big and the road is long.
“We still have a lot to do during the season to be able to talk about fighting for the title.
“There is a lot of quality in this team and I have seen enough.”
Senderos was relaxed with the suggestion that he was not necessarily first choice for Warburton.
Joleon Lescott decided against a move to Rangers following talks with the club before he signed for Greek side AEK Athens on a twoyear deal from Aston Villa.
Former Fulham, Aston Villa and Grasshoppers defender Senderos said: “Every club has a lot of targets – one, two, three. I am really pleased that I have signed here.”
Meanwhile Jozo Simunovic insists he is fully fit and focused on doing well for Celtic following his failed move to Torino.
The Croatian defender travelled to Italy for a medical after an agreement appeared to have been reached between the two clubs, but the transfer collapsed late on deadline day.
He said: “My head is in Celtic and I am 100% focused on the field and the challenges ahead. I am fit, I train with the team, and of course the coach decides when I will start to play. And when I start, I can promise one thing. I’m going to give more than maximum, for Celtic!”