Jack Butland has opened up on the relentless pressure and all-consuming expectations of life as a Rangers player, as he faces the prospect of a prolonged spell out of the starting XI.
The Ibrox No.1, widely regarded as one of the Scottish Premiership’s standout performers last season, has been prone to criticism for his performances this time around and was sensationally dropped for last week’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Club, with former Motherwell captain Liam Kelly preferred between the sticks.
Kelly kept his place for Sunday's 2-2 draw at Aberdeen, a selection that suggests Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson is prepared to stick with the experienced ex-Motherwell shot-stopper for now — leaving Butland with an unfamiliar battle to reclaim the gloves.
Speaking on the Fozcast podcast, the ex-Manchester United and Crystal Palace goalkeeper offered a raw and honest insight into the emotional toll that comes with pulling on the jersey at Rangers — where defeat is never just another result.
“Yeah there is [a higher expectation to win],” Butland admitted. “But it’s also the before and also the after. You can be down in England, you can be at teams where things go against you, you can have a bad day, you can lose, but you can sort of go back to normality after it. It's not the end of the world.
"Here it's the end of the world and you feel it. When you've been up here for long enough and you understand what the club is about and you understand what the demands and the expectations are, you feel it. You don’t need the fans to remind you, you know.”
Read more:
-
Ally McCoist provides honest assessment on Barry Ferguson’s Rangers future
-
‘Another one to add to the long list’ — Barry Ferguson on Rangers injury blow
The England international, who arrived at Ibrox on a free transfer during the summer of 2023 and quickly established himself as a fan favourite, went on to describe the personal sacrifices that come hand-in-hand with life at Rangers, where defeats reverberate beyond the changing room and into family life.
“You just want to get home and be back indoors, and it is the end of the world. You feel like that and you know the fans feel like that as well, so you're not even going to try and push anyone the wrong way or do anything you don’t need to do," he acknowledged.
"Plans cancelled, rounds of golf cancelled the next day that were booked, because you're thinking: 'we win this game, then I’m going to have a good day with my friends' — but it’s cancelled, done. It’s not the right time because it means that much to the fans.”
Butland also opened up on how the scrutiny stretches well beyond matchdays, impacting family life and day-to-day routines.
“It does take over and it does control how things are. Your family live it, your kids live it in the school playground, your wife lives it on Instagram. It’s the only thing that matters," he said.
“When it comes to Rangers and the expectations, the expectation is to win. Whether you're 3-0 down in a European tie from the leg before, the expectation is still to win and come through that game. That’s what is expected from you.
“But the minimum requirement is what we've talked about — it's the fight, it's the effort. If the fans see that, they will get behind you. You give the ball away, fine, but see if you go win it back, the place goes mental. They want to see that fight from their team, and that's what it is. That's why it's so special.”
“You never quite know. I remember watching some of the European games from the season before I signed. I watched the Europa League final, I watched some of the Old Firm games, but it doesn’t compare to when you come up here," he said.
“It’s not the same as watching it on TV or even being in the stadium — it’s completely different, and that’s what makes it so special. That’s why it should get the credit. Playing for Rangers, people don’t give Scottish football the respect. It’s tough, it’s demanding, but it’s rewarding at the same time when you get it right.”
With Ferguson now facing a defining week, the big question is when — or if — Butland will regain his place. For now, the 32-year-old can only wait and watch, fully aware that every result shapes not just the mood at Ibrox, but his own day-to-day existence.
