Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack has expressed his belief that the team is now better prepared to compete for trophies this season following an extensive summer rebuild. With the departure of several key first-team players, including Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, Scott Arfield, and Allan McGregor, the club has brought in seven new players under the guidance of Michael Beale. Furthermore, additional targets, such as Danilo and Jose Cifuentes, are being considered ahead of the start of competitive games.
Last season saw the Ibrox men finish without any silverware, while their city rivals Celtic completed a domestic treble, including four victories in the Old Firm derbies. However, Jack, who also represents Scotland internationally, is confident that the acquisitions of players like Cyriel Dessers, Kieran Dowell, and Jack Butland will enable Rangers to compete on all fronts once again.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in Allan McGregor’s testimonial match on Tuesday night, Jack commented on the new additions, stating, “The additions look really good, all of them are going to help us in different ways. Sam (Lammers) got his goal tonight, he works his socks off for the team, he’s an honest player, and I think you’ll see that throughout pre-season that all the new guys will integrate, and they will all bring something different to the team.”
Jack continued, “Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, we will see the results of that and see the rewards of pre-season. In training, we can already see that the levels have gone up, and the standard has improved. All over the pitch, there is competition with two or three players for every position, and if we want to be successful, then every one of us will have to play a part in that.”
Acknowledging the need for squad strengthening, Jack praised the manager’s efforts to address the shortcomings of the previous season. He said, “The manager has strengthened the squad because last year just wasn’t good enough, and we wanted to improve the squad, wanted to have more options. I think we have done that so far, and there might be a few more coming in, so I think that will help us to go on and be successful and try and win trophies.”
As Rangers continue their pre-season preparations, they have scheduled matches against Hamburg, Olympiacos, and Hoffenheim. The team is gearing up for a demanding start to the season, which will include Champions League qualifiers and their first Premiership fixture against Kilmarnock on August 5. With the revamped squad and an eye on silverware, Rangers are determined to make their mark in the upcoming campaign.