Butland: Ibrox Is Always A Special Place to Play

JACK Butland hopes Rangers can use the Ibrox crowd to their advantage tomorrow evening as they host Sparta Prague in the UEFA Europa League.

It’s a big evening in Group C as Philippe Clement’s side host the Czech champions in matchday four.

Butland, who today picked up the club’s Player of the Month award, sat down with the media ahead of the match. 

He said: “It is our first home European match under the new manager, so it is going to be a good night.

"I am looking forward to it, it comes at a crucial point in the group which gives a chance for us to go top of the group and stand us in good stead for the last two games.

“I don't think there's anyone we come up against that we are afraid to play at home so I'm sure the atmosphere is going to be incredible. I am looking forward to that and I am excited. 

“It started off tricky for us last time around against Sparta Prague, but we figured it out in the second-half and in recent weeks we have improved a lot so it is a great opportunity for us and Ibrox is always a special place to play.” 

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081123 Press Conference, Jack Butland 04

Butland says the squad are working hard every day to improve as they look to continue to go from strength to strength under Clement. 

He continued: “It has felt like a long time, it has felt like we have been together for ages which I think is testament to him. The desire from the group has always been there, I think it has been channelled and the manager has simplified things for us but certainly in performances as well it has shown there is a lot of talent in this group. 

“It is coming together, and we have seen that in a short space of time by the way that the manager is and the way that we are working. We have got things we want to achieve, we have got work to do and that is a conscious effort every single day to keep getting better and improve so we have come a long way. I think we still have a way to go but we are getting towards the team we want to be.”  

“I know there are more things that he will want to implement as time goes by. We are only scratching the surface as far as everything he is trying to bring to the club and improve in all aspects. 

“We are only seeing a little bit at the minute, but I think there's more to come, he has touched on it himself that there is more he wants to bring, but without going into too much, there's not a stone he isn't looking to turn and find improvement in.” 

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081123 Press Conference, Jack Butland 02

On a personal level, Butland has been happy with his own start to life in Glasgow but insists there’s more to come. He continued: “I was just keen to hit the ground running and play as well as I possibly could. I guess with the difficult start that we had it maybe emphasised that even more but for me as a goalkeeper. 

“You can separate yourself a little bit from the stresses at times and focus on your job and I think that is the best way I can help this team.

"There are times in games where I am going long periods without being part of the game at all as we are getting better. 

“I just try to focus on what I do and thankfully so far that has been to a high standard, and I guess the club has got a soft spot for keepers. They have had some incredible keepers over the years.

"I am not where they were, they won, and they were successful and that is obviously what I want to be here, so we are far from filling those shoes but if I am a way to getting started then we are on the right path.”


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