Michael Beale in Rangers dressing room confession as Ibrox boss admits 'It’s not the group I left'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Michael Beale admits the current Rangers squad is in a different place mentally to where he left them a year ago. When he departed the club for Aston Villa along with ex-gaffer Steven Gerrard, they were champions and top of the Premiership.

Now, after Gio van Bronckhorst ’s exit, Gers are trailing Celtic by nine points in the table, with the Hoops going for two titles on the trot.

Beale will take his official Ibrox bow as boss on Thursday night when Hibs’ visit to Govan restarts the league campaign. And the Englishman says he’ll only know if he’s got an immediate response from his players when they’re exposed to pain on the pitch.

Beale said: “I lived with these players when they were a slightly better version of what they are right now. That was down to a collective identity and a way of playing football.