Rangers Secure Thrilling Victory Against Real Betis: A Milestone for Michael Beale's Side?
Rangers triumph over Real Betis with a 1-0 victory at Ibrox, thanks to Abdallah Simas' decisive strike The win harkens back to the glory days for the team, but further progress is still needed Stay updated on Rangers' journey with Sky Sports
"Despite their victory over Real Betis in the Europa League, Rangers manager Michael Beale acknowledges that there is still work to be done. During the summer transfer window, Beale received support as he aimed to revamp the squad in order to compete with Celtic for the title and secure more trophies."
However, the manager faced mounting pressure due to their loss on the season's opening day, failure to qualify for the Champions League, and a 1-0 defeat against their archrivals at Ibrox.
Although they secured a convincing victory against St Johnstone after the international break, concerns remained regarding Rangers' performance in their Europa League debut against Real Betis on Thursday evening.
Abdallah Sima's second-half goal secured the victory, but it was Jack Butland who truly shone, making several crucial saves, including two against substitute Rodri in the closing moments.
Beale praised Butland, highlighting the pressure he faced as he stepped into the shoes of a club legend and the scrutiny he endured after replacing Allan McGregor in the summer.
"But I've known about Jack for a number of years and all he's had here is an opportunity to play and show his quality.
"It's still very early in his Rangers career but we're delighted with him.
"To get him as a free transfer, I think we've done very well but it's only the start of his Rangers career."
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Jack Butland impressed for Rangers
Rangers' victory on matchday one is promising, with Beale expressing confidence in their ability to advance to the knockout stages. However, he cautions against getting too ahead of themselves at this point.
The results and performances have not been in line with the positive signs we witnessed behind the scenes when the season began. It is crucial to demonstrate passion and desire, as the quality will eventually improve with successful outcomes and increased confidence.
"I'm not ready to start praising the team and talking just yet. We have to reset and prepare for the upcoming match against Motherwell.
"This season, we have faced a few setbacks and received criticism from external sources that has been impossible to ignore."
"We have had two clean sheets since the international break and that is a real positive sign.
"But, nothing is done. It is just one performance."
Barisic: It felt like the old Rangers
Defender Borna Barisic feels the team are back to their old selves after what he saw as a morale-boosting win over Betis.
Barisic struck the crossbar with a powerful free-kick, while Rangers also had several other scoring opportunities against their La Liga opponents.
"I sense the essence of the old Rangers in our performance," he remarked. "I can confidently state that we are progressing well. I'm thoroughly pleased, and the overall atmosphere among the team and in the dressing room is one of joy and contentment.
The schedule is very hectic with games scheduled every three or four days now. We need to keep going despite our failure in the Champions League and defeat to Celtic before the international break.
"We have been extremely unhappy and disappointed with our performance. We acknowledged that we did not perform well in certain games," he expressed.
"The defeat in the derby match was particularly challenging, and it made the following two weeks of training quite difficult. Although I wasn't present, I have heard from others about the overwhelming sentiment that accompanied this setback."
After defeating St Johnstone, we are currently in good spirits and feeling much better. However, it is important to note that this victory is just a single game. It is essential for us to maintain this positive attitude and strive for further victories.
Improvement still required
We' Mark Benstead watched the Betis match at Ibrox:
Borna Barisic expressed after the game that the old Rangers had made a comeback.
"They may not have reached the same level as their previous Europa League matches at Ibrox, but the outcome they achieved cannot be disputed.
"There are areas for potential improvement as we move forward.
"When assessing the game's balance, it becomes evident that Ranger's missed opportunities in favorable positions resulted in insufficient tests for the goalkeeper."
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This highlights the possibility that the team may lack the ideal blend of players in the attacking positions and possibly the right individuals despite the financial investment. Follow every Rangers game in the Scottish Premiership this season with our live blogs on the We website and app, and watch match highlights for free.Stay updated with the latest news about the Rangers by bookmarking our dedicated Rangers news page. Explore their upcoming fixtures, stay informed about their recent results, and watch highlights of Rangers' goals through videos. Additionally, keep track of their position in the Scottish Premiership table and find out which Rangers games will be available for live streaming on We. To access all these features and more, simply download the We Scores app and select Rangers as your favorite team. You can even receive notifications directly to your phone for a comprehensive Rangers experience.
