Michael Beale spoke with energy and determination as he assessed the challenges on several fronts over the next week, in all three domestic competitions as well as the demands of the transfer market.
Today’s clash against Aberdeen is followed by the midweek test away to Kilmarnock ahead of Scottish Cup duty in Perth next Saturday evening and by that game, there will be an expectation that the squad will have been bolstered with an arrival or two. That sentiment is true of the manager as well as the supporters, given what we’ve heard and ongoing work within Ibrox.
Beale has alluded to what he wants to happen, as mentioned again at Friday’s press conference:
“In this month we don’t want to be any further behind in the league. We want to be in a final, we want to be in the next round of the Scottish Cup and we want to recruit more players to take me towards where I want to go and my vision of where this team needs to be.”
“I want to re-energise the team in terms of age. Re-energise it in terms of energy as well and I want to go on some new journeys.”
Targets
Following five wins and a draw from Beale’s opening half a dozen fixtures, all in the Premiership, it was been a very decent return in terms of results as much as the performance level still needs to improve. Taking stock and looking ahead to the upcoming three matches, there is the chance to seal a cup final spot and take a step toward another whilst maintaining league momentum.
It could be that the new faces as well as those returning from injury can be the catalyst for a spark in the side to bring up the overall impact but at Rangers as always, the results matter most starting at Hampden this afternoon with Aberdeen in the way of an Old Firm final, next month.
An action packed seven days begins today with Rangers striving to pick up at the national stadium as they ended in May in the victory over Hearts. A first win as manager for Michael Beale in the domestic cups is also there for the taking.