Dan Neil says frank conversations have helped set Rangers on right path
Dan Neil revealed some no-holds-barred talks in the Granite City helped Rangers get back on track on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Derek McInnes and his side went into the game under pressure after being knocked out of the Europa Conference League play-off by Czech side Jablonec on Thursday night in a penalty shoot-out.
The shock exit left McInnes with just two wins from seven since taking over as Gers boss in the summer and flying direct from the Czech Republic to Aberdeen allowed his squad time together to have some deep dialogue about the poor start to the season.
There was no huge improvement against the Dons but a Lawrence Shankland penalty after the break clinched the Gers’ first William Hill Premiership win of the season.
Midfielder Neil, who signed from Sunderland on a three-year contract in July, said: “We spent time in Aberdeen as a team, in the hotel together, for a few days.
“It wasn’t a case of lads just going to their rooms on their iPads and nobody speaking.
“There were a lot of conversations, mostly about Thursday and the last few weeks, really, and about how important the game was on Sunday.
“No matter what we did, we had to come away with three points. I think you’ve seen the connections that we’ve built over the last few days out on the pitch.
“During a season, you’re going to have ups and downs. The biggest thing is ironing them out really quickly.
“The few days we managed to have together in Aberdeen, as a whole, not just the squad but all the staff and backroom staff, spending every hour with each other really, and having conversations about what we think we can improve on and what we’re doing well, have been really positive for the group.
“To top it off with three points at a tough place to come is really important.”
Neil insists there is an egalitarian aspect to McInnes’ group, as they try to find their feet amid a rebuilding job that has so far facilitated 12 new signings this summer.
“Everybody in the squad has got a voice,” he said. “We ask everybody’s opinion and we respect everyone’s opinion.
“We try to speak as a team to iron out the things that maybe aren’t going right at the minute.
“Obviously, I’m not going to go into what was said, but I think you’ve seen that all the lads are together and willing to fight for each other.
“I also understand that not every game is going to be like that and not every game is going to be pretty.
“In an ideal world, everybody wants to play nice football, play through the thirds and break teams down.
“But I think over the last few weeks the group has probably lacked a bit of confidence with the results that we’ve had, which is only natural when the results haven’t been going our way.
“So, it was important to stand up, fight and win duels.”
--
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.