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Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Jack Butland: After last season, I had to remind myself I'm a good keeper
Rangers' 2-0 first-leg win over Panathinaikos was an Ibrox introduction for a number of new players as well as the head coach Russell Martin. For Jack Butland, meanwhile, it was a fresh start; the moment he was finally able to close the door on last season's demons. The goalkeeper had, of course, been unceremoniously dropped before Rangers' previous home continental game, the Europa League quarter-final first leg against Athletic Bilbao back in April. Barry Ferguson, the then interim manager, had lost patience with the Englishman after a series of high-profile blunders, and when Liam Kelly saved a penalty to secure a 0-0 draw with the Basques, Butland's fate was sealed. The 32-year-old found himself reinstated for the final two Premiership games of the campaign — dead rubbers both — but a far more significant show of faith arrived in the form of selection last week against the Greeks. And boy did Butland repay Martin, pulling off a string of excellent saves to keep the scoreline blank before fine second-half strikes from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama gave Rangers a cushion to deploy in the searing heat of Athens come Wednesday night. Far from calling for his head as they had been less than four months ago, the home support were back to chanting Butland's name. 'I certainly know that they remember that guy that I was at times last year,' he said. 'There were also some times where I wasn't at the levels I needed to be. It was not for the lack of trying and not for the effort that I put in on the training pitch. I just had a difficult moment. And when you have a difficult moment here, at a club like this, it can be compounded. 'I completely understand at times the frustration of the fans because the expectations of me are so high. My expectations of me are so high, which is why probably those moments felt a lot worse. But listen, they make you stronger. 'I feel really refreshed, feel good, feel really positive about the season ahead. I had a really good summer, a lot of time to think about stuff, work on stuff, just to remind myself that I'm a good goalkeeper — I believe that I'm a top goalkeeper. Sometimes you can forget that when things get tough and you start to overthink. But I'm feeling in a great place, really looking forward to the season.' Asked how he had pulled himself out of a hole, Butland spoke of having used the setback as a spur. 'Sometimes it's just a case of, you know, you've got to break down a few walls yourself as far as reminding yourself of things, just training hard, reinforcing things. 'I had a good sort of training camp in the summer. I looked at a few things where I felt I'd slipped into a couple of bad habits. And it just gives you a little bit of something to focus on, a different thing to look at. 'And some things that I've taken into this pre-season with a sort of fresh mind … I'm really excited about the opportunity to work with the manager and what we're trying to do here. 'I want to be here. That can hurt you. So, for me, it was, I suppose, a bit of a kick up the backside, if you like. Not like I needed it. But if there was any motivation I needed, that was added extra. I know and believe I can be a huge, huge part of this club's history and success. And I still intend to do that. 'I wasn't looking for a big game [against Panathinaikos]. It was just a case of 'let's just play the game'. I felt in a good place. Let's just try and make good decisions.' From the boardroom to the dressing room, it has been a summer of huge change at Rangers, with plenty more turnover of personnel expected before the transfer window closes on September 1. Butland believes the level and pace of change has already had a revitalising effect. 'Sometimes it can be really difficult. But what I will say about the guys they've brought in, they have a lot of ideas, a lot of energy and it feels like we're starting to operate in a really good way. 'And that just leaves you as players to do your own thing, just to fit into the system, test yourself in the way that the manager's challenged us. All the staff set the levels and then it's really good and easy for you to follow as players. You can then reinforce things, but the message is there.' Although Rangers have taken a huge step towards the third round of Champions League qualifying — where they would meet Servette or Viktoria Plzen — Martin's men have been at pains to underline that the tie is not over. They will be rightly mindful of the cloying conditions which await at the Olympic Stadium, as well as a Panathinaikos side whose early dominance could have put them well ahead had it not been for Butland's brilliance. 'We're not far off our holidays; the boys have had some heat in recent weeks so it shouldn't be too much of a test and we're certainly not going to use that as a concern,' the goalkeeper said. 'A lot of tactics go out the window. You've got to play the game, you've got to use your experience, you've got to manage the game, you've got to take the sting out of it, you've got to know when to get the ball back and play quick and when to kill the game and play it smart. 'All of that's going to come into it because this is not a league format, this is a knockout. We know what this means and what we need to do.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'When there are questions marks over you, it hurts,' admits Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland
As the final days of a forgettable personal campaign ebbed away, Jack Butland did his best to remember. Before the fumbles and the frailties set in, he'd excelled in goal for Rangers. Touted for an England recall at one stage, he hadn't lost his ability overnight. He had found himself struggling with confidence, however. There was that moment he punched the ball into his own net at Old Trafford. There were poor decisions and errors against Motherwell, St Mirren, Hibernian and Dundee. The harder he tried, it seemed, the deeper the rut became. Philippe Clement stood by him, but Barry Ferguson, a former team-mate at Birmingham City, omitted him from seven matches including both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao. The end of the season could not come quickly enough. 'There were also some times where I wasn't at the levels I needed to be,' Butland admitted. 'It was not for the lack of trying and not for the effort that I put in on the training pitch. 'I just had a difficult moment. And when you have a difficult moment here, at a club like this, it can be compounded. 'And I completely understand at times the frustration of the fans because the expectations of me are so high. 'My expectations of myself are so high, which is why probably those moments felt a lot worse. But, listen, they make you stronger.' The 32-year-old Englishman needed time, space and, by his own admission, a complete mental reset. 'I had a good training camp in the summer. I looked at a few things that I felt I'd slipped into a couple of bad habits. Whenever there's those question marks over you, I want to define my time here. I love it here. I want to be here. So that can hurt you. 'So, for me, it (being dropped) was, I suppose, a bit of a kick up the backside. Not like I needed it, but if there was any motivation I needed, that was added extra. 'I know and believe I can be a huge part of this club's history and success, and I still intend to do that.' Butland has no shortage of trusted confidants to lean on but his dip in form was essentially a matter he had to tackle head on himself. 'There's a variety of things,' he added. 'Sometimes it's just a case of you've got to break down a few walls yourself as far as reminding yourself of things, just training hard, reinforcing things.' He knew that all eyes were on him as Russell Martin took the team for the first time in a competitive game last week against Panathinaikos. Were it not for the keeper's interventions in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier, Rangers could have been three goals down by the time Findlay Curtis produced some heroics of his own at the other end. A handsome 2-0 victory, with the second goal coming from debutant Djeidi Gassama, would not have been achieved without Butland rolling back the years. It had been some time since he'd heard his name praised in song by those congregated behind his goal. 'That's what I hope they remember. I certainly feel like that guy,' he recalled. 'I feel really refreshed, feel good, feel really positive about the season ahead. 'I had a really good summer, a lot of time to think about stuff, work on stuff, just to remind myself that I'm a good goalkeeper and I believe that I'm a top goalkeeper. 'Sometimes you can forget that when things get tough and you start to overthink. But I'm feeling in a great place, really looking forward to the season.' Come what may, it's now his intention to stay in the moment. What's gone is gone. He can only shape the immediate future. Whatever the external pressure ahead of the first leg, he was no more relieved to make that first big save from Filip Duricic than any other in his time at Ibrox. 'That's the way I'm thinking,' added Butland. 'I wasn't looking for a big game. It was just a case of: 'Let's just play the game, let's just try and make good decisions'. 'Despite all the things that we've been trying to work on as a team, just remember that I'm a goalkeeper first and foremost and try and do that bit. 'Just let the game come to you, which I did. Yeah, you're able to get involved and help out in a few moments. 'There were some other huge blocks in there from the boys. We kept it at nil-nil for a while until Findlay got the breakthrough.' It would have been the simplest of matches for Martin to analyse. Aside from Butland's saves, pretty much everything Rangers did in the first half was sloppy. Yet they were unrecognisable after the interval. 'The best bit about half-time was the fact that all the issues that we had, we created them ourselves,' Butland recalled. 'We weren't quite doing the things that we've worked so hard on. When it comes to a big game like this, with 50,000 fans, the Champions League, first game of the season, it's very easy to revert back to type at times and not quite do the things that were being asked. But that was a good thing about half-time. 'We looked at it, realised the things that we weren't doing quite right, adjusted it and we're a lot better for it.' While it would be foolhardy to read too much into bounce games and one competitive match, a pattern of play is emerging under the new manager. There has been a load of information for the new players to digest in a short period of time, yet Butland feels invigorated by the challenge. 'There's not been a season I've come in and not felt that,' he stressed. 'But I suppose at the minute what you feel is a new expectation, new ownership, new control, new management, a lot of fresh faces at the training ground. There's been lots of change. 'Sometimes it can be really difficult. But what I will say about the guys they've brought in, they have a lot of ideas, a lot of energy and it feels like we're starting to operate in a really good way. 'And that just leaves you as players to do your own thing, just to fit into the system, to test yourself in the way that the manager's challenged us. 'The message is there. I think you'll have seen a lot of it last week, but you'll start to see some new patterns, some of the ways that we want to play. 'And that only comes if everybody's on it and everyone's in trust and in tandem with each other.' A two-goal lead from the first leg puts Rangers in a position which is enviable yet by no means impregnable. Panathinaikos have no choice but to come out with all guns blazing on Wednesday. Martin must decide if he's going to fight fire with fire or batten down the hatches. Irrespective of the approach, Rangers' interest in the competition will largely come down to heart and nerve. 'A lot of tactics go out the window,' said Butland. 'You've got to play the game, you've got to use your experience, you've got to manage the game, you've got to take the sting out of it, you've got to know when to get the ball back in play quickly and when to kill the game and play it smart. 'All of that's going to come into it because this is not a league format, this is a knockout. We know what this means and what we need to do. It will be really important that we get a result there and get through this time.'
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rangers fans 'will enjoy' Martin approach
Barry Ferguson lost his job to Russell Martin but thinks the former Scotland defender will prove to be "a very good appointment" as Rangers head Ibrox captain Ferguson ended the season in interim charge, but the Scottish Premiership club's new owners turned to the former Southampton boss instead."If you watch the way his teams play, I think the Rangers fans will enjoy his approach to it, Ferguson told Go Radio."I spoke to him a few weeks ago and was very impressed by him and I'll get right behind him."In his time in charge, Ferguson was unable to narrow the gap to Celtic at the top of the table that led to the dismissal of Philippe Clement in February but also led his side to the Europa League was not willing to go as far as assistant Billy Dodds, who told BBC Scotland that he believed only 30% of the Rangers squad was good enough for the club."I just think the squad needed a bit of help - a bit of experience - and Russell realises that," he said."When I went in there, the guys were brilliant to work with and gave everything for me and that's all you can ask for. There's definitely a lot of good players there."Ferguson picked out the summer acquisition of midfielder Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth as significant."Joe Rothwell is an experienced campaigner, he is a very good player who has played at a good level," he said. "Some of the signings I've been impressed by and I think they'll do a very good job for Rangers."Martin makes his competitive debut as Rangers boss at home to Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying on Tuesday."It is going to be a tough tie," Ferguson predicted. "It was probably the team in the draw you would have like to have avoided."But, listen, Rangers are at home and I am sure the fans will get right behind Russell Martin. It's all about getting a result and making sure they go to Greece next week with a victory under their belt."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ferguson not ruling out return to management
Barry Ferguson would "never rule out going back into management" and says he has already had "a few offers" since his spell as Rangers' interim head coach came to an end this 47-year-old former Rangers and Scotland captain took charge after Philippe Clement was sacked in February but was replaced with Russell Martin after a US-based takeover of the Scottish Premiership club.A 40% win rate in his 15 games in charge - 24% worse than the Belgian - did not help his cause, but Ferguson "thought we done pretty well" after he and assistants Neil McCann and Billy Dodds led their side to the Europa League quarter-finals."I'd never rule out going back into management," Ferguson told Go Radio in his first interview since his spell in charge ended. "I've had a few offers from Scotland, down south and abroad, but I just felt they weren't right. I'll take a bit of time out and get back to doing what I was doing previously."Ferguson will return to his club ambassador role at Ibrox but feels that "overall, I can look myself in the mirror" after his stint in the managerial hotseat."It was kind of bumpy at times," he said. "I knew that was going to be the case. When I took over, the players were very low and had suffered some difficult results."So it was about me coming in and trying to lift them with the staff I brought in alongside me."Ferguson says he "loved every minute" of his time at the helm and was just "thankful for the opportunity" he thought would never come despite his previous spells managing Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic."There were results at Ibrox, the ones that stick out - Motherwell and Hibs - they were really disappointing," he said. "We had some brilliant times and some difficult times. "I had a brilliant three months, but that's finished with. My life is back to being nice and quiet again, which I'm quite happy with."Ferguson admitted that picking McCann, Dodds and former goalkeeper Allan McGregor as his backroom team led to "some feisty moments".However, he added: "I could have picked a number of people, but I wanted to go with people who would really challenge me as a staff. I like getting challenged."Certainly the staff that I picked gave me a few challenges."
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Barry Ferguson breaks Rangers exit silence at last as he reveals what he'd do differently and what comes next
Ferguson has spoken publicly for the first time since his interim spell as Ibrox boss came to an end back in May Barry Ferguson has spoken for the first time since leaving Rangers – and says he wouldn't change a thing about his time in the dugout. The former Ibrox captain answered the call to take the reins as interim head coach after Philippe Clement's sacking in February and brought an established coaching team of Neil McCann, Billy Dodds, and Allan McGregor with him. It was Ferguson 's first venture into the dugout since leaving Alloa in 2022 and it's fair to say it was a rocky ride. There were some highs, including a 3-2 victory away to Celtic and a Europa League triumph over Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce, but he struggled to deliver consistency and was eventually relieved of the interim position after a 2-2 draw with Hibs brought the curtain down on the Premiership season. Ferguson was initially in the frame for the permanent post but the club decided to pursue other options, the new San Francisco 49ers -backed owners eventually landing on Russell Martin as the man for the job. And Ferguson, speaking publicly for the first time since his exit on the Go Radio Football Show, said: "I wouldn't change a thing about it. "I never thought it would ever happen and when you get that phone call, it's a case of 'when can I start?' "You've got to think of who is working beside you and who you want beside you and that had to happen very quick. "I could have picked a number of people but I wanted to go with people who would really challenge me as a staff. I like getting challenged. "Certainly the staff that I picked gave me a few challenges. There were some feisty moments when we had to make some decisions. "I had two sore ones, at home to Motherwell and Hibs. The Motherwell game, we should have beaten them; the Hibs game we were nowhere near good enough. "But then I changed the personnel and shape and we got a victory in the next game. "That's part and parcel. Nothing is ever perfect and you're never going to win every single game, as much as you want to. But it's how you react when something goes against you that's the most important thing." As for what's next, Ferguson isn;t completely ruling out a return to the dugout and has knocked back offers. But life will return to what is was before for now, which includes resuming his Record Sport duties. "Listen, I had a brilliant three months but that's finished with," he said. "My life is back to being nice and quiet again, which I'm quite happy with. "Look, I'd never rule out going back into management. I've had a few offers from Scotland, down south and abroad but I just felt they weren't right. I'll take a bit of time out and get back to doing what I was doing previously. "Nobody will be able to take those three months away from me. I loved every single minute of it, albeit there were some disappointing times. "The decision is mine and I know what I want. What I want is what I'm doing just now; back at Rangers in my role that I had previously, doing a bit on here and I'll do my Daily Record column. I"ll play a bit of golf and a bit of fives, try to enjoy and get back supporting my team, hopefully seeing Rangers being successful under Russell Martin.
