The job is about privilege rather than pressure, about football rather than finance. Come kick-off at Ibrox this evening, Michael Beale will focus on the things that matter to him and the things that he can govern.
The outside noise level has increased a few decibels in the wake of the defeat to Kilmarnock on Saturday. Beale cannot directly control that process for good or for bad but he can influence it and the significance of the visit of Servette this evening will not be lost on the Englishman.
He doesn’t view the situation in a negative manner, though. Four years on the Ibrox staff and six months in the hotseat have prepared Beale for the trials and tribulations that he will encounter during his first full term as manager and the fact that the questions and criticisms have come after just one fixture should not be a surprise.
It is all part of the territory at Ibrox. As Beale looks forward rather than back, Rangers have the chance to get off and running at the second attempt following their false start at Rugby Park.
“You have to enjoy it,” Beale said “We’re playing in a Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.
“As a coach you are in a very privileged position. These are your guys, you work with them every day and you know the hopes and aims they’ve got.
“You don’t go on the pitch with them but you give them a plan and you hope that they execute that plan.
“You know how much it means to people inside the club, they’re invested in it.
“I think I’m in a hugely privileged position and you have to remember that.
“The last few days have not been ideal on the back of the result at the weekend, but I wouldn’t want to switch positions with anyone else.
“I love the job that I have. It’s important we go out on the pitch [against Servette] super positive to attack this game.”
Given the way in which Rangers conceded against Kilmarnock, attack may prove to be the best form of defence as they switch competitions and return to the Champions League.
Rangers are guaranteed a group stage campaign in the coming months. Beating the Swiss would be the first step on the road to the most lucrative section but the hurdle of PSV Eindhoven or Sturm Graz would still stand in Beale’s way.
Victory over the next week would see Rangers bank at least £4million in prize money. The sums have been important over the course of the transfer window but the rebuilding job has not been an extravagant one.
“Financially this summer the money going out and the money coming in will even itself out,” Beale said. “So it’s not like we haven’t gone to the well in terms of asking for loads of finance to rebuild the squad.
“We’ve been very clever in our selection and the way we have done it and the players who have left. But financially for any club Champions League finances are the biggest finance you can get in club football.
“If we can do well in the next couple of years in Europe there is a new competition coming in so there are a lot of bonuses there.
“But forget finances for a minute and think about the status of our club and what it means to the fans and to the players. There is an achievement side of it which I focus on much more than the financial side.
“I’m probably the worst person to ask about those things, I’m just thinking about the ambition of the players and the staff and the fans to go and be in that competition and show a better face than we did last year.
“It was wonderful to be back, it took a lot of effort over the years from the different coaches to raise the co-efficient and get back in. Gio and his staff did an incredible job to get in and it was a tough year.
“For the players that were in the building and the players who have been signed the aim is to have a really positive season in Europe, ideally in the Champions League.”
This will be Beale’s first crack at the premier club competition in the game and the lure of testing himself at that level is matched by the ambitions of his players as they bid for the opportunity to take on and beat the best.
The Europa League exploits in successive seasons during Steven Gerrard’s reign proved beneficial in terms of the bottom line. Yet the impact that each run had on the squad cannot be underestimated and the prospect that history could repeat itself is an obvious attraction of a prolonged campaign on the continent.
“When I was here previously we played a lot of games in Europe, forget what competition,” Beale said.
“Some of the players that got to the final – that was like their 60th game in Europe over three or four years because of the number of qualifiers we played. So that team was very experienced.
“The players we brought in Danilo and Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers come from teams that play in European competition.
“They played in European leagues as well and they join a core group that have got good experience at this level.
“Certainly of playing knockout ties home and away in hostile environments. You are hoping that will help for sure.”
Many of those within the Ibrox ranks have been over the course and distance with Rangers before. Those that are new have their own experiences to call upon.
There is a train of thought that Rangers would be better off in football terms with another crack at the Europa League but the financial boost provided by a Champions League cheque cannot be sniffed at. That is especially true when Celtic have already secured their cheque.
“It depends what balls come out of the pots doesn’t it?” Beale said when asked about the Europa League being the natural level for the Old Firm on the continent.
“Last year the group stage for Rangers was a massive reward for getting back in and it was tough, but if we are fortunate enough or earn the right to get back this year we jump up a pot and then the draw can be different.
“I remember being in a group with Porto and Feyenoord when we were in the Europa League and that was a tough group.
“The Europa League last year looked like the strongest Europa League I can remember in terms of the level of the teams in there.
“At this level all the teams have really good players and most of the teams we play against spend more money than teams from Scotland in terms of the players they bring in. So when we get to that level we know that we are playing against high quality.”
