JACK BUTLAND has praised the squad for putting on a positive performance overall as Rangers’ UEFA Europa League group stage campaign got off to the perfect start with a 1-0 win over Real Betis at Ibrox tonight.
The Light Blues were defensively solid on the night with the goalkeeper keeping a second successive clean sheet with Abdallah Sima’s second half goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.
Speaking to RangersTV after the victory the goalkeeper says this is the best the team have felt all this season so far after a win and highlighted their strong defensive display as key to claiming three points in the group opener.
He said: “It was another really enjoyable home European night. They are special nights and they are getting better, today was really enjoyable and I think one of the best we have felt after any game this season. A really positive performance from everybody, a well-deserved win and it could have been more, in this group stage to start off like that it is really positive for us.
“It is really pleasing; we have limited them to very few chances really. We didn't really feel like they really troubled us too much but that is what we expect from a top side with some incredible talent that have won Champions Leagues and all the rest of it.
“You expect to be under it for a little bit. I thought the lads played extremely well, we were high up the pitch, we pressed well and limited them to pot shots. Overall we defended extremely well and could have scored a few more goals.”
The shot stopper produced several big stops on the night when called upon and he has credited his teammates to limiting the Spanish side to little clear-cut opportunities throughout.
He continued: “I felt comfortable, I feel good and that is also credit to the boys. We are not given away chances that you feel like you are going to get beat by, that is when you are playing well as an individual and you playing well as a team. You limit teams to opportunities that you back yourself for, there was some great blocks and defending on the whole, limited them to very little dangers really and a really solid performance.”
The Englishman has credited the Rangers supporters for how they drove the team on to victory and wants the squad to build on the performance as they welcome Motherwell to Ibrox as they return to league action this Sunday.
He added: “They always do, we know the expectations from them, we are dealing with all of that and we are getting there as team and hopefully tonight was step towards that finished article.
“There is a long way to go and a lot of things we want to achieve this year, but something very positive to take and hopefully they can see that as well, but it goes without saying they follow us everywhere, they are incredibly loud here and everywhere else we go they are with us so it is always very much appreciated.
“We can take a lot of confidence but there is another game at the weekend. There is Motherwell so you have got to roll that into that game and you have got to take tonight's performance into it and don't waste that. You have got to go into the game at the weekend back here and come away with another win.”