Rangers host Servette in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night; they lost their Scottish Premiership season opener against Kilmarnock; Fashion Sakala is on the verge of a move to Saudi Arabia
Wednesday 9 August 2023 19:19, UK
Michael Beale has defended his new-look Rangers side ahead of their European opener which follows a damaging start to their Scottish Premiership campaign.
Six of the club's nine new signings made their debut at Kilmarnock on Saturday, but the Light Blues boss came in for criticism following a shock 1-0 defeat which already leaves them three points behind champions Celtic.
However, ahead of the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Swiss side Servette at Ibrox on Wednesday night, Beale said: "There's loads of coaches after a game you don't win.
"That is the nature of the business, that is being a football coach. You try to blank that out. You believe in the work that you are doing.
"The team played the same way last season and played a lot of games, scoring lots of goals, and certainly away from home.
"When it is right it is right and when it is wrong, I get it, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
"I believe the way we play is fine, we just have to be a bit more decisive. The ball just needs to roll a little bit.
"We signed some good players, they come from good clubs. Let's get on with playing.
"The fans will get behind the team as long as the team play with the energy the fans want to see and that is what everyone inside is pushing for.
"Naturally we were hugely frustrated and disappointed by the weekend, it wasn't what any of us wanted.
"We can't dwell on it. We have a really important game tomorrow night [Wednesday], a different competition.
"We can deal with the league again on Saturday when we face Livingston but there is a lot of frustration in the air.
"I think the game can't come around quick enough for the players, the staff and the fans as well.
"It is an important game. We trust the fans will be right behind the team at Ibrox and it is important that we play well on the night.
"We know how important the fans are, and they know it also. They showed at the weekend what they bring to the club and it's important the players on the pitch match that - together that is what makes our club special."
Beale confirmed left-back Ridvan Yilmaz remains out, while defender Ben Davies is also on the sidelines but he is not in the European squad.
If Rangers get past Servette, who beat Belgian side Genk on penalties in the previous qualifier after playing most of the evening with 10 players, they will face PSV Eindhoven or Sturm Graz.
Beale said: "The games at this level are always tough - we are not looking any further than this game right now and making sure we get a positive result.
"I watched Servette last week against Genk and the mentality they showed was outstanding.
"We know we have a tough opponent and we are not looking any further than this game.
"To qualify financially for the club will be very good, that's obvious and that is our aim right now. We can't look further than Wedmesday night to make sure we get a positive result."
Forward Fashion Sakala has left Rangers for Saudi club Al-Fayha in a £4m switch.
The Zambia international, who said his goodbyes to the Gers fans on Monday with an emotional social media post which noted the "end of an unforgettable chapter in my life", scoring 24 goals in 91 appearances.
Beale said: "Fashion Sakala was a hugely popular person in our squad and played an important role in the team from the moment I arrived as manager.
"On the pitch, he scored and assisted a number of goals, whilst off the pitch his infectious personality and natural enthusiasm made him an outstanding teammate.
"He departs the club for a very good opportunity in Saudi Arabia and everyone at Rangers wishes Fashion and his family every success in the future.
"He leaves Rangers with a lot of friends and a big good luck from all the staff and players. He will always be welcome back at Ibrox in the future."
Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller is backing them to impress in their Champions League qualifier as they look to recover from Saturday's Premiership defeat to Kilmarnock.
"The fans won't be happy that Celtic got off to a good start again under Brendan Rodgers, and Rangers have slipped up on day one so already you're playing catch-up. With that comes pressure," he told Sky Sports News.
"So you go into a game on Wednesday night here at Ibrox in a Champions League qualifier and the fans will be turning up expectant and that will then automatically shift to the game at home on Saturday against Livingston.
"Here in front of 50,000 fans on the slick Ibrox pitch, I'd expect to see a lot more from Rangers in an attacking sense.
"You could see right from the off against Kilmarnock the ball bounces differently and it maybe took a few players some time to adjust to that."
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