Barisic: We’re In Good Shape

BORNA BARISIC has been delighted with Rangers’ impressive start to the 2020/21 season and he admits to feeling in great shape himself having put in a lot of hard work in the build-up to the new campaign.

The Croatian defender has been a standout performer for the Light Blues so far this term and on Wednesday night against St Johnstone his quality was there for all to see when he opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a curling, trademark free-kick.

For his side’s second goal in the 3-0 Premiership win at Ibrox, Barisic then delivered an accurate low cross for teammate Ryan Kent who steered the ball past Saints goalkeeper Elliott Parish before the half-time whistle.

Finding the net, providing an assist and helping his team record another clean sheet meant it was a great evening’s work for 27-year-old Borna and he was pleased that Rangers secured three more valuable league points after 1-0 and 3-0 victories over Aberdeen and St Mirren.

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140820 Press Conference Barisic 05

He said: “I'm very happy and it's been a very good start to the season for me. But I'm even more happy because we start very well, we are keeping clean sheets and we have nine points and three wins. So yeah, I'm very happy.

“It's not easy to keep clean sheets for three games, but it's just part of the job. We have been doing very well, not only defensively but even when we go forward and attack, scoring seven goals.

"Because of this good start we have confidence, but that also comes from pre-season. We worked very well and training was 100 per cent focus. And, of course, we now get more and more confident with every game. That's very good for the next games of the season.”

WATCH BARISIC'S FREE KICK HERE

Speaking at this morning’s pre-match press conference at the Rangers Training Centre ahead of Sunday’s Premiership fixture away to Livingston, Barisic discussed his technique when taking free-kicks.

He said: "I practise a lot! After almost every training session I stay and then practise, so I am happy when I score.

“I come [into this season] in very good shape, I think the best in my life, so even in pre-season I work very hard and I will do that in the future for sure, just to help me personally and, of course, to try to help the team to keep winning."

On this weekend’s game against the Lions and playing on their artificial pitch, Borna added: “Honestly it is different, of course, and I really don't like plastic pitches.

"We already played on them the last two years and I have played on them, so it's different but we are used to playing there and we will not have a problem with that."

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120820 Rangers vs St. Johnstone Barisic Goal 42

Steven Gerrard has confirmed Leon Balogun will miss Sunday’s game through injury, but Barisic has been impressed with the centre-half since his arrival at Rangers in July and also goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who joined the club in June.

He added: “They have adapted very well, both of them. They are very good players and very good guys.

“I don't think they will have problems to adapt here because I think we have a very good squad."