Rangers are gearing up to face Hibernian in a crucial Premiership fixture at Ibrox, with new manager Derek McInnes keen to see his team perform well. The match on Sunday marks his competitive debut as the Light Blues boss after an opening night draw with Dundee United at Tannadice last week.
McInnes is determined to change the recent trend where visiting teams have thrived in Govan. He says, 'We’re still working towards our best performances but on Sunday we’ll have 50,000 fans behind us. We’ve got all the ingredients there to try and get up and running - and get our first three points in the league.'
The manager believes that with the support of their home crowd, Rangers can make Ibrox intimidating again. 'Regardless of whether we get any new additions in for it, we know we’ve got players here who can win that game and it’s important we do that,' he added.
McInnes is also aiming to change the mentality of visiting teams when they come to Ibrox. He wants them to struggle and feel uncomfortable, saying, 'That’s hopefully what we’re working towards. I know the Rangers team that I want and what it looks like and I’m sure we’ll get there.'
The new manager is aware of the challenges ahead but remains optimistic about his squad's potential. 'Last season (when he was Hearts boss), with both sides of the Old Firm, a lot of teams felt they could get a bit closer to them (at Ibrox and Parkhead) if you brought a big performance,' McInnes noted.
He adds, 'We have to try and put more stress on opponents - home and away - but especially when they come to Ibrox now. We want them not to cope and be looking around at each other saying: ‘Here they come again’. That’s the mentality.'
