BEN Godfrey has reflected on a positive start to his Rangers career after settling in at the club over the past few days.
The defender joined on a season-long loan deal from Atalanta on Monday, becoming manager Derek McInnes’ second signing since taking charge.
Speaking to the media in this afternoon’s press conference, the defender looked back on his time involved with the squad so far and why he made the move north of the border.
He said: “It has been incredible, I have been welcomed really well by everyone at the club, which is always nice.
“I couldn't wait to get started and get on the grass, and I have enjoyed every second of it.
“I am looking forward to all the challenges; I am excited to work under the manager, and it is going to be an exciting year.”
The 28-year-old spoke on his new boss and the types of players he has brought into the building, as he hopes to use his different perspectives from featuring in several leagues to drive the club forward both on and off the pitch.
He continued: “He is great; obviously his career speaks for itself. We were excited to work together; no matter how old you are, even at my age now there is still plenty that I can learn from the manager.
“It is not just about the quality; to come into this building you have got to be a good player, but it is also the right characters as well.
“I think the manager is big on that; he picks carefully the right type of people that have come into the building.
“Myself, a senior player, Ross [McCrorie], a senior player and characters; they all want to point their nose in the same direction and push this club forward.
“The quality is there with the players that have come in, but definitely the characters as well.
“As you get older in your career, the experiences that you get that you take on as you get older.
“I will certainly do that; it is the type of character that I am.
“Certain things are a given: hard work, how you represent this club day-to-day. I am someone that is always going to be around to help the young players and sort of teach them what it takes to stay and break through at this sort of level.
“I had people above me who did that when I was their age.
“I think it is going to be important for us senior players in this team to do that, to drive everyone on, to keep everyone together, and when undoubtedly there are going to be tough times in a season we can be there to keep everyone together and pull through it.”
Joining from the Italian side, Godfrey hopes his experience of regular game time in Denmark with Brøndby in the second half of the season will stand him in good stead for hitting the ground running in Glasgow.
He added: “Earlier on in the year, the run of games that I put together was massive for me.
“It is so important for my body; I think that is any player as well.
“When you get regular football, you start to find a rhythm, you start to get your match sharpness back.
“Fingers crossed I can do that again, be on that pitch regularly enough and help this club kick on.
“You have just got to ride them out; I think it has made me the person and the player that I am today.
“I don’t regret anything throughout my career; I learn from every day and every week that goes by. I can use that playing experience and off-pitch experience to be as successful as I can here.”
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