Kris Boyd: New Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst needs to win title this season
New Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst must deliver the Scottish Premiership title this season, says Kris Boyd.
The former Dutch international was announced as Steven Gerrard’s replacement at Ibrox yesterday and takes over with the club currently four points clear at the top of the table.
Gerrard led Rangers to the title last season with 102 points – ending Celtic’s nine-year dominance in the process – and the pressure is on van Bronckhorst to make it back-to-back crowns.
Boyd, who himself won two titles with Rangers as a player, suggests that the new boss arrives with a level of expectation already in place.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Boyd said: “Giovanni van Bronckhorst is coming into Ibrox with a good squad and will be expected to challenge in every cup competition and win the league as well.
“First and foremost you need to win the league, especially with what’s at stake this season. The winners are all but guaranteed to go straight into the Champions League next season and the finances are crucial for any Scottish club going forward.
“People will say Gerrard’s exit is bad timing, but if you look at it the other way, a lot of people have mentioned he has only won one trophy in nine.
“Well, Gio is six weeks away from actually lifting a trophy that Gerrard failed to do, in a cup, if the side win two games. The opportunity is there for Gio.”
Immediate pressure
Giovanni van Bronckhorst will certainly not be afford any time to settle in at Rangers with the fixtures coming thick and fast over the next few weeks.
The Dutchman will be in stands at Hampden Park on Sunday for the Scottish League Cup semi-final against Hibernian, before making his dugout debut against Sparta Prague in the Europa League next Thursday.
He is certainly in a fairly unique situation, as very few managers start a job with their new club already top of the league.
In some ways it is a strong position for van Bronckhorst to be in, but there will be intense scrutiny on him if he fails to lead Rangers to the league title.
He has a strong squad at his disposal, albeit one that is on the older side, so there will be no excuses if silverware is not delivered.
In other Rangers news, this senior player may be frozen out by van Bronckhorst now he’s arrived at Ibrox.