AN eye-opening interview with Kevin Muscat has shown exactly what Rangers can expect should he becoming the club’s next manager.
The Australian has emerged as the frontrunner to replace sacked Russell Martin at Ibrox.
Rangers‘ rather laboured process to find a new boss appears like it may finally be reaching its endgame.
Martin was dismissed just hours after the 1-1 draw at Falkirk 11 days ago.
Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard quickly emerged as the favourite to make a stunning return to the club but dramatically withdrew from the running last Saturday after flying in for talks.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl then emerged as the favourite – but SunSport then exclusively revealed earlier this week that former Rangers star Muscat was a serious candidate.
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Rohl has now also pulled out of consideration and there now appears to be a clear run at the job for Muscat, who won the treble at Ibrox as a player in 2003.
The 52-year old was a leading candidate for the Ibrox job two years ago but Philippe Clement was appointed instead.
Two years on, he might now finally get his crack at the gig.
Muscat is currently in China as boss of Shanghai Port, a role he took after missing out on the Rangers job last time around.
He led the club to a league and cup double in his first season in charge, the first double they’d ever done.
The former defender now has the club on course for another league title and that could complicate a move to Rangers.
Muscat previously won league titles as a manager in Australia and Japan.
The Light Blues might have to wait for Muscat’s arrival with the Chinese Super League still having a month left to run until its conclusion.
Muscat previously worked as an assistant to former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and studied the approaches of several big name managers in the past.
So what can Rangers expect from him?
Well, an interview conducted by Australian outlet Bruce earlier this year sees Muscat open up on EXACTLY what he expects.
He certainly doesn’t hide his desire to win and is very open about being motivated by a drive for championship success, something that will no doubt please Rangers fans.
But creating what he calls an ‘environment of respect’ is also high on Muscat’s agenda, and creating distance between himself and his players is a key part of that.
In the YouTube video published in May this year, Muscat explains: “It (Shanghai Port) is a club that’s relatively new in terms of its lifespan but I think it’s a club of the people, a club that wants success and a club that’s driven by trying to win championships.
“So we were under no illusion arriving here what was required.
“I was sold the idea of the club wanting to take a completely new direction in terms of the football they play and myself coming here was going to be integral to that.”
Muscat goes on to explain the ‘sacrifices’ he expects players to make – with adapting to his methods key to that.
As part of that ‘environment of respect,’ Muscat reveals how he consistently pushes his players outside of their comfort zone.
He continues: “If you arrive somewhere and you’ve got a belief and a real strong desire to do something, it grows on people and that’s what happened here.
“You know, they could sense the belief in what we were trying to do and what we wanted to do and that became infectious.
“You have to learn it wherever you go but understanding that it’s you who has to make the sacrifices culturally because you’re coming into an environment and of course you’ve got your certain beliefs and your non-negotiables because to play the way we play, you have to train a certain way.
“But then understanding where everybody sits culturally and we’ve had to adapt.
“Certainly when we got here, we had to adapt in the way we train because it was so different to what the group was used to.
“I’m not one of those who’s always with the players or not with them at all.
“I try to find a happy medium where they do know they can come to me if they need anything or if I can help them or support them with anything.
“But at the same time I want to keep a distance, a respectful distance, that ultimately there’s the football philosophy of the way we’re going to play is dictated by me.
“So I want to create that sort of environment but also an environment of respect.
“Fortunately here, they’re a real good group, they’ve been driven, they’ve been asked to get out of their comfort zone and responded well.”
Muscat would be taking over a club that has only one won league title in the past 15 years.
Martin’s dire spell in charge has left Rangers languishing in eighth position and well off the pace being set currently by Hearts.
But it appears he certainly won’t be daunted by moving to a club where much better is going to be demanded.
And it seems he will expect the same from his players.
Muscat added: “Winning trophies is one thing but the football allowed us to do that.
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“The great thing about being here is that, yes, success is demanded not only from the club but the fans and that expectation has grown, considering last season.
“But working with a group of people in this club who have got a genuine belief and a genuine environment and appreciation for the way we play and that’s the environment I like to be in if I’m honest as well because there’s a genuine willingness and effort and desire to win things and that’s the expectation on us once again this year.”
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