Bullish Michael Beale has revealed his New Year resolution – and told Rangers fans they’ll enjoy 2023 more than they did 2022.
The Ibrox giants stunned the Continent under Giovanni van Bronckhorst when they reached the Europa League Final with a series of top performances against the likes of heavyweights Borussia Dortmund. Although Rangers then also lifted the Scottish Cup, the wheels were to spectacularly come off this season – with van Bronckhorst paying the price by being replaced by Steven Gerrard’s former assistant Beale.
Despite being fresh from four wins on the spin, the new manager knows Rangers must get better as they trail Celtic by nine points in the league ahead of Monday’s mouthwatering Old Firm showdown at Ibrox. And Beale has moved to assure the Light Blue legions this year WILL be an improvement on the first half of the season as he made a promise to them.
Asked what his message to the fans is, Beale told Sky Sports: “We need to make them proud, make them excited about watching us play. We need them to come to the stadium and back us but it starts with us first. No bold statements.
"It’s just they know I’m going to work tirelessly day and night. They need to know these players are going to pull and do everything they can to move the club in the right direction.
"We’ve got a bit of a challenge on but we’re going into a new year with lots of optimism. We have lots of quality in the building as well which makes me very confident 2023 will be a stronger year than 2022."
Beale was tempered in his language over the significance of the upcoming derby’s result – but did deliver one non-negotiable: there has to be improvement.
He added: “It’s a game we have to do well. It’s going to give me a real indication of where my group is at compared to theirs.
“It’s not a permanent one. As I say, it’s just a snapshot of where we’re at right now. I need that feedback, we need that feedback, everyone needs that within our club. We won’t get too carried away if it goes really well but at the same time if it doesn’t, we still need to move forward.
“We’re in three competitions between now and the end of the season and the league is the one where we’re handed the worst cards if you like but we have to move forward and keep improving. It’s an area of our performance, of the growth of the club that’s a must. It’s not a maybe – it’s a must happen.”
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