Philippe Clement acknowledges that in an ideal world Rangers wouldn't have experienced such a significant squad turnover this summer.
Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe were among the high-profile departures, while many of their replacements have been carefully crafted to fit a different transfer model.
As the Scottish Premiership season kicks off this Saturday, Rangers manager Clement is optimistic yet realistic about his team's prospects, with their chase for the league title beginning against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle Park.
With a squad undergoing significant changes and pre-season results not reflecting much positivity, Clement, who today signed a contract extension to remain at Ibrox until the summer of 2028, emphasised the need for patience as his nine new recruits adapt and integrate into the team.
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"It is difficult to use the right words," Clement explained. "I am 200 percent sure we will be much better in October, November and December and the months coming after. That is normal if you see how many players have left and joined, how many young players we have brought in who still need to learn things.
"In that way it is a squad with a lot of potential, more than last season with the things we still want to do. Does it mean tomorrow we will see the best Rangers better than last season? I think you will see some interesting things, I am confident about that. We are not there yet at our best, no. That’s asking the impossible."
Asked whether it was was important for supporters to be tolerant if things don't start smoothly, and recognise the process, the Belgian continued: "It’s logical. There needs to be patience but it doesn’t mean some things can’t click really fast, that is always the challenge.
"You have players who adapt really fast and a week after stepping into the building show their best football and you have players who need weeks, some months, to get used to things. I don’t know what manager can predict that - it’s impossible.
"Of course, we need time with the team also, the way we want to play it is in a structure with the ball and without it. That means you need experience out of that, you make faults and learn out of it.
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"It’s like a book, every day is a page and every week there are a few and it becomes thicker. In that way it is easier if you have in seven months you keep the core you had and add with a few new signings to make it better, then we would be better now.
"But the club was in another moment with contracts and the age of players and their level as we had several going down in form instead of growing in form. It is another moment so you need time to fit the puzzle in every sense."
