Brian Laudrup outlines how Rangers and Giovanni van Bronckhorst can ‘shut up the critics’
Brian Laudrup believes a win for Rangers against Hearts on the weekend will be enough for Giovanni van Bronckhorst to silence rumours of his sacking.
After a rough patch of form, Rangers head to Hearts on Saturday afternoon knowing a win will momentarily send them top of the league.
Current league leaders and bitter rivals Celtic host Motherwell shortly after, and could be nervous after slipping up against St Mirren in their last game.
Former Rangers midfielder Laudrup believes victory in Edinburgh on Saturday will hugely relieve the pressure on Van Bronckhorst and finally let the Gers move on from a period of heavy defeats.
Laudrup wrote via his Scottish Daily Mail column (print edition, 27 September, page 73): “Rangers face their biggest and toughest match outside an Old Firm game when they travel to Tynecastle this Saturday.
“St Mirren’s 2-0 win over Celtic in Paisley before the international break was a Christmas gift in September for the Ibrox side.
“The Ibrox players and management badly need to shut the critics up and get a result at Tynecastle and take that into Europe because we all know they play Liverpool at Anfield next in the Champions League. What a game that’s going to be!”
Make or break
With so much football to be played in October, it really does feel like a make-or-break month for Rangers.
Either the team come together and rediscover some form under Van Bronckhorst, or they drift away from the title challenge and end up looking for a new manager.
It’s truly a pivotal part of the season and it will be a true test of the character inside that Ibrox dressing room.
While Champions League qualification seems almost out of reach already, it’s important that Rangers put on a good display against Liverpool – even if they end up on the losing side.
Van Bronckhorst can’t afford for any positive momentum to be halted by a one-side drubbing in the Champions League.
There are also some huge fixtures on the horizon domestically. Other than the Hearts game mentioned above, Rangers have to play St Mirren fresh from their Celtic victory, as well as Motherwell and Dundee.
If there’s ever a time Van Bronckhorst needed to get a grip of his squad and bring them together, it’s now.
In other Rangers news, new data reveals worrying flaw in squad that proves a rebuild is needed immediately