GOALKEEPING coach Sal Bibbo says it’s a pleasure to work within a strong goalkeeping unit every day as he reflected on his first six months at the club.
The 51-year-old joined the club in the summer and was reunited with Danny Röhl and Sascha Lense in October after working together at Sheffield Wednesday.
The side have enjoyed an upturn in form in recent months, aided by the performances of Jack Butland and Liam Kelly between the posts, and Bibbo believes a competitive and challenging environment has been key.
Speaking to RangersTV for the first time since his arrival, he said of his goalkeeping unit: “It is a good group with Jack, Liam Kelly and Kieran Wright, who work tirelessly every day for the boys. He supports them and adds to the group.
“Liam tries every day to be the No.1, and for me, he isn’t a No.2; he fights to play. It is an admirable quality, and when he doesn’t play he genuinely supports Jack. He is a Rangers fan and wants us to do well, whether he plays or not.
“Jack has taken the challenge from the start of the season, and he has stood up to it well.
"He has come into good form - that is all credit to him, as some people were questioning him at the start of the season.
“He has approached it really well; he had the right mindset, open to learning, to embrace the new coaches, and we have built a good relationship. We have a trust, and he is great to work with and watching him play is a big enjoyment.
“The boys know what I expect; week-to-week training changes, and the boys have different load schedules if they have played or not. It is bespoke, and we try to give them the best preparation to play well.”
Butland has enjoyed a rich vein of form between the posts in recent months, pulling off a string of vital stops while also developing a very useful penalty saving habit.
Bibbo is delighted with the performance levels from the former England international and says the competition around the goalkeeper is bringing out the best in him.
He continued: “The person who steps onto the pitch deserves credit, but the people behind them, teammates, family or friends, they support them in the highs and lows.
“Jack takes credit for his performance, but he has good teammates who support him. They challenge one another; we create a challenging environment.
“Liam comes in every day, challenging to play, and he has a carrot of the World Cup at the end of the season.
“The hardest thing for a goalie is the day after the game. You have a great result, but sometimes you come off the high, the boys who aren’t playing are training hard, and that requires motivation, a real strong mindset and dedication.
“Those days are pivotal for Liam and Kieran to work that benefits them. We speak about what he has to work on to be in the best shape to play for us and for Scotland.”
There is still plenty at stake for Rangers this season in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup as they look to get their hands on silverware.
Bibbo says he has full belief in the squad and its support network and insists they must remain grounded and focused.
He added: “I would always try to stay calm. It is not being negative.
“You have to be balanced and calm in the good times and the bad. I have belief in the work I do, and we do. I know what an amazing coach and person Danny is.
“I am enjoying being back with him, and I believe he can maximise what this group has to offer. As coaches, it is how we support him and the players and then see where it takes us, and hopefully it is winning the league.”
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