Gio van Bronckhorst has challenged his Rangers contract rebels to enter talks now as the Scottish Premiership season grinds to a halt - with the Dutchman saying that negotiations can be opened at any time.
No fewer than NINE first-team players, including Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack are out of contract in the forthcoming summer as Light Blues bosses scramble to secure the long-term futures of their best talents in a bid to stop them leaving for either minimal fees in January, or for nothing come the end of June.
However, whilst Van Bronckhorst recognises the need to renew and that he is confident in doing so with some players, attentions must first and foremost turn to the Scottish Premiership, where the Gers will be aiming to close the seven-point gap on rivals Celtic in the bid for Scottish top-flight glory come the end of the season. Record Sport brings you everything the Dutchman said ahead of Saturday's clash with St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday afternoon.
It is now 27 games already this season - have you felt the burden of that?
“I think it’s so many games already played, it’s the 27th game tomorrow. I think it is [busy] for everyone involved in football at the moment. For players and managers, it is not ideal if you see how many games we play in a really short period. I think you see teams who are used to playing on a high level also struggling with injuries, and those are players that are used to playing a lot of games on the highest level. For us, we had to play above our level in the Champions League, so that is already tough mentally and physically and we had to do that in a shorter term, which makes that even harder. But it is the decision of FIFA to organise a World Cup in the beginning of November, so someone needs to take, how you say…it will affect someone if you organise a tournament in November, and that is players and us managers.”
Is there a lesson to be learned, then, for preparation?
“It’s the first time we’ve had it. You also come from the season before so you don’t have any time to give players extra time off. We had to start the season with already qualifying for Europe, so for me I think our biggest lesson would be to not organise another tournament again in November. For me, that is the smartest thing to do.”
Is this five-week break crucial for you?
“If you see, it cost a lot of energy which is normal - so yeah, I think we needed a break, my players need a break - look at my squad and how many players we have unavailable. I think it is normal that you are waiting for the break, for time to recover and refresh.”
Who will you have back for after the World Cup?
“I hope! I can’t say exactly, but I know we want a bigger squad for when we play our first game against Hibs, and so far I am confident we will have players back. How many I don’t know, but I will push my medical department for them to be available.”
Are you happy your players have been picked, whilst Celtic have pulled their players out?
“Yeah, but I think they have a trip to go to, so they need their players. It’s normal, every club will make a decision and for me, it is the same as we have players who played so many games. Some players might need minutes to be fresher, Ryan Jack is one of them, he will be involved in the squad tomorrow but he is a couple of weeks out - so it is more beneficial for him to have minutes.”
Can you enlighten us on the contract situation with Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos especially?
“I think it is not about the break, we can talk now. We have been talking with them previously, so it is not about the break, the uncertainty will stay if they don’t sign a new contract. That is the position you will have as a club if you have so many players out of contract at the end of the season, and that uncertainty will stay I think.”
How close are you on new contracts?
“You should ask Ross, as Ross is seeking with the players and the agents so I think he is best to ask about what the situation is.”
Are expiring contracts a concern?
“I think when things are not going well or you are in difficult moments, people will talk and pinpoint problems and areas which can be improved. I am not a technical director but it is not always the case that you always happen what you want. You have discussions, contract talks, players who might have different ideas of their futures... so there are a lot of things which are important to when you sign new contracts, I think Connor Goldson was someone who was uncertain, but in the summer he signed a new deal, so it is difficult always to point the finger to one person.”
What about Morelos' future?
“I am very confident and positive - that doesn’t mean it will happen, but we will see. I am a very positive person and for me it is not my decision, so that is very difficult for me to say if new contract will happen.”
How imperative is a result against St Mirren this weekend?
“It’s very important. It’s always better to go into the break with a win than a different result. For us it’s the same, the last game before the World Cup and we need to keep winning and getting three points. That’s obviously our aim and in our goals to finish the first half of the season with a win.”
Can you take any positives from the win over Hearts in midweek?
“I think we saw many positives. The way we tried to play, especially at the start of the game, and in the second half we showed our desire and intentions to go forward, to give energy into the game, and again we scored a great goal and had some really good chances to score even more. But for me and for our players, it is very important to be even more clinical. We had many chances to score a goal and in the end only scored once. Very important because we won, but definitely something we need to do better.”
How are you aiming to get your strikers scoring again?
“Of course, I think a striker role will come, getting into the most areas and positions to score, we have to keep looking for those situations. I think what is very important for us as well is the support from midfield. The last games, we scored with midfield players in [John] Lundstram and [Malik] Tillman, but you want everyone to be dangerous in front of goal and both [Antonio] Colak and [Alfredo] Morelos have that threat. Colak is the top scorer in the league and Morelos had some good chances to score in the last game, so they need to keep pushing themselves to get into areas and positions where they will score.”
Is there any injury news ahead of the game against St Mirren?
“We have Fashion [Sakala] who is unavailable, he has a minor injury with his muscles so he will be short-term, but not ready to play. Colak also has a minor injury. It comes too early for tomorrow. But then we have everyone available, Ryan Jack will be back in the squad.”
How are you preparing to face a defensive side like St Mirren after the St Johnstone result last week?
“We have played so many games against teams who have a low block, and against St Johnstone created many chances to score, I think the quality of our chances could have been better in that game. I think on Wednesday it was much better, in the second half we had so many chances to score with good intentions and attacks. That will be the same tomorrow against a low block and a team that plays very direct, who are fast and dangerous in transition moments, and we have to be fully focused throughout the 90 minutes to get a result.”
Any news on potential transfers come January?
“I don’t know, not at the moment! I am focusing on St Mirren as the window is still closed for one and a half months. We have to be more clinical; we get in so many positions and chances to score. The difference, I think, is that we need to score more goals, and if you have seen our games and scoreline, it is a whole different story if you have one or two chances and win by a one goal margin, or you have so many chances to score even more. The expected goals in our last games are really high and in the end, the extra goals we scored was low. That needs to change as the more goals you score, the easier you will play in the games."
Any in-depth notice on Colak?
“We had to take him off on Wednesday and it is an injury where if you play midweek, he will probably make the squad but with so many games and two games in between, it is impossible to get him ready for the game. He is out but will be fine when we come back.
Who do you think will win the World Cup?
“Holland! 100 per cent Holland. It was close, but they are going to do it. I competed in three World Cups and when I was a small kid, I loved to watch all the World Cups. That will never change, and although the timing is strange, I love to see the World Cup and all of the top players competing with each other. I am also curious to see how the big countries do, Argentina or Brazil - no matter which World Cup, they are favourites. France, England, Spain - I am very excited to sit and watch all the games.
“For sure, we only have one player involved [Borna Barisic], and Croatia made the final last time against France, so it is a squad with experience. I am also curious as to how my player will do.
