Rangers utility player Andy Halliday has praised the improvements that Steven Gerrard’s side have made since the former Liverpool midfielder became the club’s manager last summer.
Gerrard’s side travel to Kilmarnock for the final game of their season on Sunday looking for a seventh consecutive victory, with Rangers ending the season in excellent form since losing at Celtic at the end of March.
Halliday believes that Rangers will be able to improve on the progress made in Gerrard’s first season in charge, and has praised the improvements made at Ibrox throughout the campaign.
“I think it’s the first time in a long time I’m going into the summer really excited to start again next year,” Halliday told Rangers’ official club website.
“The progress has been there for all to see and I think even behind the scenes there has been lot of progress that maybe the outside world don’t quite see.”
“It’s well documented the changes we have made to the training ground but I think overall, in terms of the mentality of the playing squad, we’ve brought in a lot of experienced players, a lot of leaders, and overall it’s a better environment around the place.”
OPINION
Rangers have as Halliday acknowledges made some decent progress this season in Gerrard’s first year in charge at Ibrox. That has been evidenced by Rangers’ recent run of six consecutive victories heading into the final day of the season, which has included a 2-0 win against Celtic at Ibrox last weekend in a match where Gerrard’s side showed they can compete with and beat their Glasgow rivals. That will give confidence to the Rangers players that next season they will be able to mount a closer challenge to Celtic in the race for SPFL title. However, despite the recent progress Rangers will end the season without a trophy, which is something that Gerrard will be wanting to address in his second year in charge next season. Halliday is tight to note the improvements made not just in the first team but around the club since Gerrard took over, and they will hope to use that to their advantage next season.