Rangers boss Michael Beale defends players ahead of Champions League qualifier against Servette

Rangers host Servette in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier on Wednesday night; they lost their Scottish Premiership season opener against Kilmarnock; Fashion Sakala is on the verge of a move to Saudi Arabia

Tuesday 8 August 2023 15:22, UK

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Michael Beale has defended his new-look Rangers side ahead of their European opener which follows a damaging start to their Scottish Premiership campaign.

Six of the club's nine new signings made their debut at Kilmarnock on Saturday, but the Light Blues boss came in for criticism following a shock 1-0 defeat which already leaves them three points behind champions Celtic.

However, ahead of the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Swiss side Servette at Ibrox on Wednesday night, Beale said: «There's loads of coaches after a game you don't win.

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»That is the nature of the business, that is being a football coach. You try to blank that out. You believe in the work that you are doing.

«The team played the same way last season and played a lot of games, scoring lots of goals, and certainly away from home.

»When it is right it is right and when it is wrong, I get it, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

«I believe the way we play is fine, we just have to be a bit more decisive. The ball just needs to roll a little bit.

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»We signed some good players, they come from good clubs. Let's get on with playing.

«The fans will get behind the team as long as the team play with the energy the fans want to see and that