Borna Barisic speaks out about unhappy Rangers dressing room amid Michael Beale pressure

Rangers full-back Borna Barisic admits he and his team-mates had been left “very disappointed” by their start to the campaign.

The Gers lost half of their opening four Scottish Premiership games and were beaten heavily by PSV in the Champions League qualifying play-offs.

However, they have recovered well since the international break thanks to wins over St Johnstone and Real Betis.

The 1-0 Europa League win over Real Betis in particular might be a watershed moment, but Barisic admits that earlier performances were insufficient.

“I think these two wins are very big, very important,” Barisic is reported by STV News [21 September] as stating.

“Of course, we have been dissatisfied and disappointed. We felt we didn’t play well in several games.

“We lost the derby game, and it was obviously a difficult two weeks to be here to train.” I wasn’t there, but I get what they meant.

“Then we went to St Johnstone and won the game, and now this game, so that’s why I said we feel much better and happier now.”

“However, this is only one game.” We must keep going in this manner, be positive, and strive to win games.”

Building momentum

A week is a long time in football, so we are often told, and that has proved the case for Michael Beale and his Rangers side.

This time last week, as the players prepared for their trip to McDiarmid Park, the mood could not have been much lower.

However, victories over St Johnstone and Real Betis have helped to boost confidence, and there are now plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Of course, the opposite may be true, and Beale could be asked the same old questions again next week.

Between now and then, Rangers must win both league and League Cup matches against Motherwell and Livingston.

If they succeed, momentum will be firmly on the Gers’ side as we approach the next international break.

Given the cynical nature of football, it is perhaps best to wait until then before casting any further judgements on Beale’s future.