Arthur's Column // 27th October 2022

Nobody at Rangers will be happy at losing 3-0 to Napoli on Wednesday night. It leaves us with zero points from five games. But there needs to be a little bit of perspective on the situation.

Napoli is a top team. They are the best in Italy, right now. They have the ability in the squad to go really far in the Champions League.

So, as much as it hurts us all to admit, we are just not at their standard. But that doesn't mean we give up and don't strive to become better and better. We can improve and we must improve.

It's got to start on Tuesday night at home to Ajax. This is a chance to get a victory on the board, finish on a high in front of 50,000 Rangers supporters.

Ajax is also lacking a bit of confidence just now and a wee bit vulnerable. They've also had a couple of heavy defeats in this tournament.

So, the situation between Rangers and Ajax is very similar.

I believe we can get a positive result in midweek. But, before that, we need to take care of Aberdeen.

As I said last week, and I really mean this, the SPFL Premiership is the priority.

Dropping two points to Livingston last weekend was unacceptable. But we cannot change that. It's gone. It's history. What the manager and the players can do is make sure we beat the Dons on Saturday and also beat St Johnstone, Hearts and St Mirren.

That would give us 12 points from the four games before we go into the break for the World Cup Finals. We need to do this. We can't drop any more points.

I'm confident Giovanni will find the solutions. The squad needs to find extra confidence and get back to being the players we know they can be.

James Tavernier needs to be the inspirational captain at difficult times. Ryan Kent needs to take on defenders and create opportunities.

John Lundstram needs to be rock solid in the heart of the midfield. Ben Davies needs to defend with his life for the full 90 minutes.

Giovanni will turn this around. He knows the game and knows what is required.

He is suffering and hurting right now, believe me. He is fully committed to turning things around.

He has the ability to do it and pull Rangers through this tough period.