Graeme Souness says there is a 'way back' for Rangers in the title race with Celtic as he urged the Ibrox support to 'be patient'.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has come under increased pressure with his side trailing Ange Postecoglou and his champions by nine points going into the World Cup shutdown. The Hoops have won eight league games on the bounce and 14 out of 15 while the Light Blues have been inconsistent and dropped points of late against Livingston and St Mirren while tasted defeat at McDiarmid Park against St Johnstone.
Celtic are favourites to go on and retain their title from the strong position they find themselves in, but Souness has pointed to the three Old Firm derbies to come and says it will be a 'different picture' if the Ibrox men win them all. He told BBC Scotland: "Of course there's a way back. It's not a long way back, it's beating Celtic next time out.
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"There are three Old Firm games - win those and it'd be a different picture.
"I am never comfortable talking about a manager losing their job.
"I know how tough it is to be a manager, I know how tough it is to manage in this city and Giovanni van Bronckhorst would have known that coming into it.
"Now is the time where he'll be finding out what he's got in his dressing room. Who motivates the motivator?"
When asked to give a message to the Rangers support, Souness replied: "Be patient. I know it is unlikely, but there's a chance.
"If the fans turn up in a negative mindset, that can only hurt the players. Stick with your team, stick with the manager."
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