DEREK McInnes has praised the ‘huge effort’ from his players at the end of a tough training camp in Spain.
With intense training and two fixtures, it has been a challenging week for the group, but the manager says it has been an important period both on and off the pitch.
Speaking to RangersTV at the end of the camp, he said: “It has been very tough for the players; since they came back three weeks ago, they have been first class in terms of their effort.
“This week is there to serve its purpose again and to try and get that connection with each other, get closer to each other, but also it reinforced the fitness levels, and I think what we have had this week, is has been a brilliant effort.
“In the first game we had that physicality; we worked the players really hard for a couple of days before that. Against Johor, we tried to be a bit fresher, because we knew they are a team who are 22 games into their season, they are unbeaten domestically since 2021, and we knew there would be a confidence about them.
“I thought we set about the task brilliantly and I thought we were the better team in the first half. We were just bemoaning lack of quality, lack of finesse and lack of real conviction in the final bit, and then we got caught cold at the start of the second-half.
“The first goal is very much a case of that, and the second goal we have a slip and it leads to a second goal, so we had it all to do, and I am delighted with the players' response. No one accepted losing the game, and we just kept going to get that winning goal and two brilliant goals from Tochi, and I think it was the least we deserved.”
With new signings Ivor Pandur and Cammy Devlin joining training on Monday, alongside Thelo Aasgaard who is returning from the World Cup, McInnes is delighted to be welcoming them back as he looks to create togetherness in the group.
He said: “I want us to be more together as a squad. I think what we have got is a lot of good individuals here, and we saw signs of that last season. Rangers at times were really strong, and I thought individually some players were playing at a good level, but when it came to it we needed to be more of a team.
“I just want us to try and really build that work ethic and the togetherness that gets you through tough times.
“Ivor got a couple of weeks off, Cammy got a week off, and Thelo took a week off as well, but he was eager to come back into it, and we are delighted to get them back in the building, and that will give another bit of quality, and it just bolsters the squad.
“The club have done brilliant work at this moment in time to bring the additions that we clearly needed from last season, but we want to make sure we have a more rounded squad and when it comes to the bit that we are ready. The work will be ongoing; we are still looking to try and get a couple of things done ahead of the St Etienne game on Wednesday, but we are two weeks away from Dundee United, and I feel the fitness of the players is a lot better and a lot stronger.”
Looking ahead to the next challenge against Saint-Étienne, McInnes continued: “I haven't really thought about that too much; I think if I think about it too much I'll probably not sleep, but I am really excited about the whole occasion.
“You know what the club means to me and being manager here is special, but I am well aware of my responsibility here to try and drive the whole thing forward with the support of the board, staff, and players. We are all trying to get towards the same thing, but walking out at Ibrox on Wednesday night will feel nice.
“I want to make sure when I am walking back up the tunnel we have won a friendly game, we have taken lots of positives from it and another step forward for Dundee United because we have got to be ready for that.”
MYGERS: From priority access and behind-the-scenes opportunities to special events and unique moments, MyGers brings you closer to the action on and off the pitch
RANGERS MUSEUM AND STADIUM TOURS: Experience the magic of Ibrox Stadium, with your very own ‘access all areas’ pass