GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST insists the Champions League is not a bonus for Rangers and his team do not take the competition lightly.
Skipper James Tavernier has come under fire from some sections of the Gers support and pundits in the media for claiming that UEFA’s elite tournament was a “great bonus” for the Ibrox club this season.
The captain made the comments in the wake of Rangers’ disastrous 7-1 loss to Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Some fans were understandably frustrated with the comments given the amount of money they’ve had to spend on tickets to watch their team play in the Champions League – a tournament that the club has yet to muster a single point in so far in the group stages this season.
However, van Bronckhorst has provided his views on what Tavernier meant, saying that his players and staff are hurting from their latest result.
He said: “The only thing I can remember or think of as a bonus is that we reached the Champions League which is very difficult to qualify for.
“This season was a bit easier because your champions will go directly but in the past we have seen so many difficulties for Scottish champions and runners-up to qualify.
“I don’t think it’s a bonus. We try to be competitive to make our crowd proud with our performances and so far we have not had the results.
“There have been moments in games were we have played really well, especially against Napoli and Liverpool at home.
“But eventually we want to play well against any team we play. So I don’t think ‘bonus’ as you can see it as something we take lightly. We don’t.
“We all felt very down after the game. That’s how you have to feel and I know as a player and manager how special this tournament is.
“To be involved you have to work hard and once you are in you want to compete.
“Even though you play against big teams every loss hurts.
“You will need that hurt to become stronger as a player and also me as a manager.”
Steven Davis also launched a strong defence of his teammate’s comment.
The Northern Ireland legend was adamant that the captain’s words were being forensically looked at too closely.
He added: "We all know the landscape associated with Glasgow and too much can be read into certain words at certain times and different contexts can be taken from that.
“I don't think it was as literal as basically the words would suggest in terms of what Tav was saying. This is the level we have worked hard to get back to and the level we want to be competing at and testing ourselves at.
“How I would take it is we want to be at that level but know it's very difficult for us to try and do anything really special in the CL with the quality that's there.
“Unfortunately, we have found that out so far in the group and our biggest chance of winning things is going to be domestically but we all want to be in the CL, we are desperate to get back to that level and want to be getting better results than what we have shown but we know the level is very difficult.”
Rangers travel to Fir Park today looking to get back to winning ways against Motherwell.
They will visit the Lanarkshire club without Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack, however, will be boosted with Ben Davies inclusion in the squad.
Of course, should the Ibrox club fail to get back on the saddle then serious pressure could begin to mount on the manager.
Evidence shows with Jack Ross and Scott Parker so far this campaign that club chiefs can show no mercy when it comes to making big changes at the top.
But van Bronckhorst is aware of the precarious nature of life as a football manager.
He said: “It can definitely be a crazy thing when you see the changes of managers.
“That’s the position we are in as managers. But I never think of moments like that to be fired. I just want to continue my work and put my energy in that.
“What I really like is the backing of my directors. Because I have a feeling we are all in this together.
“We all work hard to bring success back to this club and that will go with highs and lows.
“Last Wednesday was definitely a low for all of us but I have a feeling that in this club we win together and lose together.
“We will all fight to get back on track and that starts on Sunday.
“For me it’s very good to feel that. But I also know that as a manager you have to perform and bring success to the club.
“Definitely when you are manager of Rangers. In the long term I have to perform too and that’s what I want to do. It’s also what I tell myself – to win prizes with my players.”
Meanwhile, there was no updates on the ongoing contract talks between the club and Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos respectively.
The Dutchman added: “You have to speak about contract talks with Ross.
“Of course you want your players to sign contracts sooner than later but you need two sides to agree.
“We had the same situation with Connor where he did not sign a contract during the season but then did so in the summer.
“The earlier the better but at the moment I don’t know the status. We have to wait and see what will happen in the coming months or even in the summer.”
