It doesn’t matter who becomes Celtic’s next manager. They’ll be facing a different animal across the city next season. I genuinely believe that. There’s something special brewing at Rangers. And in terms of a title race? Even now, I can see it being one of the tightest ever.
This might sound strange after a year with no trophies. And that will never be acceptable. But towards the end of the campaign, there was a real air of positivity around Ibrox. The points’ gap at the top of the Premiership was less than it when Michael Beale was appointed.
Now, he lost two massive Old Firm cup games. I get that. They were decided on the finest of margins and it was Celtic’s year. They deserved their Treble because they were the best team in the country under Ange Postecoglou. But no-one can deny that Rangers were beginning to gather real momentum at the end. The players Beale had brought in were constantly improving. Todd Cantwell finished like a train. Nico Raskin was becoming more influential with every game. His performance levels, for a young player coming from abroad, were so consistent. He had a major impact and is only going to be better next season. Rangers have already signed three players and more are on the way.
I like the look of Beale’s targets, like the Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers. So whoever Celtic get as Postecoglou’s replacement, it’s shaping up to be an incredible battle. That should have been the case a year ago. Postecoglou had just won the title and Gio van Bronckhorst had reached a European final.
I’m still trying to work it what went wrong at Rangers when the campaign started. There was a real disinterest within that group of players. They’d reached a massive height by getting to Seville and winning the Scottish Cup. But there was a huge hangover, a lack of spirit. I don’t like saying it because I know it wouldn’t have been the case. But there was a lack of fight for the jersey before Beale came in.
No player goes out not trying. I’ve been in dressing-rooms, remember. But whatever it was cost Gio his job, leaving Beale to try and rebuild that spirit. And as I’ve said, this Rangers squad is going to get better and better now. Their campaign ended with a big Old Firm win. People can say it didn’t matter, it was irrelevant – whatever.
But the champions were well beaten at Ibrox. Michael was under pressure – it was his fifth derby game as a gaffer and he hadn’t won yet. But his team produced a strong performance, irrespective of the changes Celtic had made. It was always going to be a gradual build-up to a really important summer transfer window.
The manager now has a chance to put his full stamp on this side. And he can shape the squad exactly how he wants it to look in terms of quality and numbers.
Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland are already signed up. It won’t bother Beale who Celtic end up with as manager. Whether that’s Brendan Rodgers, Enzo Maresca or any of the other names being mentioned. Tactically, nothing will faze him. He’ll relish the challenge, just as he did in the games against Ange last season. What Rangers have in Michael is a very clever coach. Everyone probably knew that during his time at Ibrox with Steven Gerrard. But people are seeing now he’s a clever manager as well.
He still wants to be on the grass with players. But away from that, you know what impressed me? When Ross Wilson left as sporting director, Michael immediately stood up and said: ‘I’ll take on that role’. That shows he’s got broad shoulders and willing to take responsibility. And at least by doing that, he can say: ‘It’s on me’.
If it goes wrong, he can’t blame anyone else. It’ll be his team. He’s been willing to go and talk to signing targets to convince them Rangers are the place to continue their career. That tells me about his personality. It shows he’s got BALLS, which is what you need to manage Rangers or Celtic.
And tactically, even in the Old Firm games he didn’t win, they were lost due to things he couldn’t legislate for. Two mistakes at Celtic Park from Ben Davies and John Souttar. Michael can’t coach something to fix that. The lack of communication in the Scottish Cup tie at Hampden before Jota scored the winner.
What could he have done to stop that? That’s not on Beale, it’s on the players. And look at what the manager was dealing with while those games were happening. A raft of players running down their contracts. Big names leaving. Uncertainty over players’ futures.
In that semi-final against Celtic, his front three were Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent and Malik Tillman – all guys who are away now. Michael had to squeeze any ounce of energy and quality out of these guys – but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough.
But it won’t be a problem this season. He’ll have players who he’s looked in the eye and knows wants to be at Rangers. A group of young, hungry individuals who want success not guys whittling down a contract to see out their time.
Before, there might have been guys who didn’t care if games were won or lost because they wouldn’t be there to reap the benefits the following year. Again, that’s gone now. It will be Michael’s team in front of him now. He knows exactly what he wants and is willing to put the work in to make sure he gets it. And whatever happens across the city, that should excite the Rangers fans.
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