Michael Beale has awful Rangers task ahead despite Celtic transfer news – Chris Sutton
Rangers manager Micahel Beale still faces an uphill struggle to reel in league-leaders Celtic, despite the potential exit of Giorgos Giakoumakisat from their close rivals, according to Chris Sutton.
The 42-year-old arrives at the Ibrox dugout a hefty nine points behind The Hoops during the World Cup break and will look to get his side back to winning ways following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Rangers may be hoping that a revival can spark following the potential exit of Celtic talisman Giakoumakis, who is rumoured to leave the table-toppers in January after netting six goals in 13 league appearances this season.
The Gers return to Scottish Premier League action when they will host Hibernian on December 15.
Although many fans are predicting a new managers bounce from Beale, Sutton is wary of the challenges that await the Englishman at the Glasgow club.
In his column for Daily Record, the BBC Sport pundit said: “The campaign resumes in a fortnight and it should not be forgotten that we are not even at the halfway stage of the Premiership title race yet.
“Sure, Celtic have a big lead and it is going to be awfully difficult for Rangers and their new manager Michael Beale to pull back the nine-point gap.
“But this is not a time for my old club to get weaker.”
Cautious optimism
The first job for Beale at Rangers is to get the team to win games and become the feared force they once were.
During his prior stint at the club with Steven Gerrard, the Gers were a winning machine, going unbeaten in the 2020/21 season in the Scottish Premiership.
Beale will be under no illusions that the task he faces is a monumental one, but in his first press conference for the club, he was in a bullish mood and wasn’t afraid to talk up expectations.
The Englishman should target the Gers match against Celtic on January 2 as the perfect chance to stamp his authority on the league. He still has a month to work with the new crop of players and get them singing to his songsheet, but the jury will likely be out following the Old Firm derby in the new year.
If Beale can kick off the new year with a derby win and then add fresh faces to the squad during the January transfer window, the club still have to believe that a league challenge is on the cards.
In other Rangers news, season ticket holders are addressed as the club considers major Union Bears change at Ibrox.