KEVIN MURPHY has praised the fitness of the Rangers squad on their return to pre-season as preparations continue for the 2021/22 season.
The Gers play their first competitive fixture on August 8 and Murphy is delighted with the progress in the early stages of pre-season.
Murphy sat down exclusively with RangersTV this week to discuss preparations so far and look ahead to the start of the season.
He said: “The girls didn't have a long break so they have come back in really good shape and it has allowed myself and the coaching staff to kick on a little bit further.
“We have never complained about the girls' physical limits, they have always been fantastic and they have always put the work in even during lockdown.
“They are in good physical shape so it allows us as staff to make sure we can go and start to do a little bit more with the ball right from the start.”
With the SWPL fixtures announced this week, and the SWPL cup making a return this season, Murphy says it gives the squad a real focus as the season draws closer.
He continued: “It just makes it more real, you get the fixture list out and you go and work out who you are playing and when you are playing home and away.
“It makes everyone realise that the season is just around the corner and they can look forward to it. We'll get a good pre-season in and we'll make sure that the girls are prepared for that first cup game.
Watch the full interview with Kevin Murphy on RangersTV.
RangersTV is the only place to follow pre-season this season and we'll have exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Rangers Training Centre every day as Steven Gerrard’s side prepare to build on the fantastic success of last season.
On RangersTV This Week:
RANGERS round-off pre-season preparations this weekend with two fantastic fixtures against Brighton and Real Madrid, and you can watch both LIVE exclusively on RangersTV.
Premier League side Brighton are the visitors to Ibrox on Saturday (kick-off 5.30pm) as Steven Gerrard’s men ramp up pre-season preparations ahead of the Scottish Premiership opener against Livingston next weekend.
Emma Dodds will be joined in the studio by Neil McCann and Alex Rae, with Clive Tyldesley and ex-Brighton and Rangers player Gordon Smith.
The game is available both inside and outside the UK on a pay-per-view basis for £7.99 and via the pre-season pass or as part of the RTV unlimited package.
On Sunday, the Light Blues will host Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid (kick-off 6pm) in their final pre-season test against the 13-time Champions of Europe.
It’s a fitting end to pre-season as Rangers celebrate their 150th anniversary, with Emma Dodds and Neil McCann joined in the studio by Alan Hutton. Clive Tyldesley will be on commentary alongside Kevin Thomson.
It’s set to be a fantastic occasion at Ibrox and you can watch all the action for £9.99, with the game also included for anyone who has bought the pre-season pass and for unlimited RTV subscribers.
A subscription to RangersTV starts from just £6 per month, and provides not only exclusive access to the club’s teams, but also original feature videos and documentaries, our incredibly popular Inside Ibrox and Away Days shows and our extensive archive of match action from through the years.
MyGers members will also be awarded 25 points for purchasing an annual standard subscription, and 40 for an annual unlimited subscription.