Malik Tillman has told Rangers supporters to get excited about a big summer and a bright future. But even if he’s not involved in it the American admits being part of Ibrox life has made him into a man.
Tillman is facing a massive decision over his future. With his current loan spell from Bayern Munich set to expire the 20-year-old could still return to Michael Beale’s set-up on a permanent £5million transfer. That’s not certain. However, having seen the manner in which Rangers defeated Celtic in the final Old Firm game of the season to boost enthusiasm and confidence in and around the club going forward, what is certain is that Tillman can see signs of good times ahead.
He said: “For the fans it was important to win a game against them (Celtic). They can expect something big in the summer. The fans saw on Saturday what we can do as a team. We just have to improve and do the best we can, to show the fans and the league what we can do.”
Beale’s job now is to build a unit capable of living with Celtic over the course of an entire season. To do so, he needs to find players who have the character to go with their ability which can enable them to cope with the searing intensity of Glasgow.
Tillman is one such individual who proved over the course of the past 10 months that he was capable of handling the heat. Plucked by Giovanni van Bronckhorst last summer on the temporary agreement from the Bavarian giants the kid was plunged into a completely new environment, lifestyle and game.
On and off the pitch, he had to adapt. Not an easy task for a youngster, especially with extra hype surrounding him due to the fact he was arriving from a European superpower. Asked if the experience of this season made him grow up quickly both as a footballer and as a man, he said: “I would say so, yes. To be fair, I watched the friendly against Blackpool in the summer and that is when I really realised how big of a club Rangers is.
“Almost the whole stadium was full. I think for the people here in Glasgow and the Rangers fans, they are passionate in a way I have never experienced before. Playing in front of 52,000 people every home game is what I have never had before. I had to get used to it but I think you grow into it and try to do the best you can.”
Twelve goals, a string of impressive performances, Champions League experience and a PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year Award tells the story that he coped just fine. Tillman admits he couldn’t have envisaged it going so well on a personal level when he walked in the door.
He smiled: “Not really, to be fair. Obviously, the Scottish league, everything is pretty much different to the German one. It is way harder and way more focused on physicality, so I had to adapt to it, but the team helped me a lot, the club helped me a lot, the people around helped me a lot and the fans as well. So they made it easy for me.
“I think I have improved in every way. Before, I would say that my defensive work wasn’t quite good. That’s what annoyed the fans as well. That’s what I heard. So to improve on that point, I think I did a good job.
“I would say in football that you have to be on a certain level. Like not only the fans expect it from you, but yourself as well. That’s what I did. You just want to give your best every time you play and train and just be better every game.
“If you come from Bayern, obviously they are one of the biggest clubs in the world, I think you have to show it to other guys that you can do something and that you can play football. That is what I tried.
“Being away from your friends and family can make you feel a bit sad sometimes. But my mum came over sometimes and that was really good for me. Glasgow is a really nice city and the people here are nice. I can’t really complain at all.”
Unfortunately for Tillman, there was no team prize to savour with the Ibrox side coming up short on the trophy front. But the fact his peers saw enough in the loanee to vote him to the PFA award offers satisfaction of an individual job well done. He said: “I am just extremely happy. I’m proud of myself. It is kind of a recognition because the other players voted for it. It is just great.”
Having gone back to Germany to start his rehabilitation after a hamstring injury ended his season the midfielder returned for his award and will be back among the Rangers boys again with Beale talks also planned.
Tillman built a bond with the group and said: “Everyone was nice but I would say Rabbi Matondo, I had the best relationship with him. He told me (to come back) when I left to do my rehab in Germany. I’m going to come back again and see them all again. I’m going to miss all of those guys, that’s for sure, if I leave.”
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