Sean Fisher

Thu 10 November 2022 13:40, UK

Rangers fans have grown frustrated with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s behaviour on the sideline, but Barry Ferguson has jumped to his defence.

Despite Rangers’ terrible run of results in recent weeks, Van Bronckhorst continues to cut a calm figure in the manager’s dugout.

But what some deem calm and collected, others view as uncaring and too nonchalant. But despite the pressure mounting on Van Bronckhorst’s shoulders, Ferguson insists the players need to bring more passion – not the manager.

Speaking via The Go Football Radio Show (9 November), Ferguson said: “I’ve heard people saying they want more passion from Gio but that’s not his character.

“He’s explained this before. He’s cool, calm and collected on the side he’s not going to rant and rave. He’s not going to do it for the sake of it. I get where the fans are coming from, they like to see that passion but that’s not Gio or his staff.

“It’s got to come out on the pitch.”

Show you care

Fans aren’t asking for Van Bronckhorst to run up and down the touchline barking instructions, but there are plenty of other ways he could show a little bit more passion.

Whether it be through his interviews or being slightly more animated in front of the fans, it could have a huge impact on the players and the team’s performance.

Sometimes when Rangers needs a lift, players look towards Van Bronckhorst for inspiration and a little bit of motivation and passion can not only get the players energised but also the fans off their seat.

Of course it reflects worse on Van Bronckhorst when the team isn’t playing so well, so therefore it’s an easy target for fans to vent their frustration at – but that doesn’t invalidate it as criticism.

The players could also do with showing more passion and energy on the pitch, but in tough times they turn towards the manager and that’s where Van Bronckhorst needs to step up.

In other Rangers news, club is forced to pay Mike Ashley eight-figure sum after legal dispute