KRIS BOYD has warned Michael Beale he will find himself under 'massive pressure' heading into next season if he doesn't end the campaign by thwarting Celtic's Treble dreams and lifting the Scottish Cup this term.
Rangers warmed up for their Old Firm semi-final with a shock defeat to Aberdeen on Sunday as Liam Scales and Bojan Miovski netted for the Dons at Pittodrie.
Now Beale must find a way to overcome Celtic at the fourth time of asking after taking one point from two Premiership clashes and losing the League Cup final against Ange Postecoglou's side so far.
The Englishman has been open and communicative during his first months back at Ibrox but former Light Blues striker Boyd knows Sunday will be a time for Rangers to do their talking on the park.
“I just think it’s the way managers speak nowadays," Boyd, speaking at his Charity golf day at Turnberry, said ahead of the semi-final. “I think you’ve always got to defend your team, it’s the way you need to go about your business.
“You’re not going to come out and lambast players. Let’s be realistic, I think there will have been a few times this season he’s probably wanted to because some performances have been miles off it.
“You obviously try to spin a positive response after the game [on Sunday] – but the second half they failed to turn up. There’s no getting away from it, everybody could see it as clear as day.
“Certain individuals didn’t turn up and it ramps up that pressure going into the game on Sunday.
“But as I said, it’s an Old Firm game and if you can’t get yourself up for that then you shouldn’t be at the football club in the first place.
“But I think, for me, Michael Beale has always said that it’s going to take him a couple of transfer windows.
“I don’t think he’ll be under any pressure at this moment in time. But, lose on Sunday and that’s going to put massive pressure on the start of next season and I include in that the start to the European campaign.”
