EXCLUSIVE:During Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s tenure as Rangers manager, one of the major critiques was that the squad he inherited, although talented, was not well-equipped to compete consistently at the highest level.

Rangers had enjoyed significant success under Steven Gerrard, but when Gio took charge, it became apparent that the team was facing challenges that weren’t immediately solved by his appointment.

One of the key issues was the lack of squad depth. Rangers were operating on a relatively tight budget, and while some quality players were brought in, they lacked the strength in depth required for the intensity of both domestic and European competitions. Injuries to key players such as Ryan Jack and the aging squad members made it difficult to maintain consistency in crucial matches.

Additionally, Rangers’ style under Van Bronckhorst didn’t seem to fully maximize the strengths of the players at his disposal. Rangers’ pressing game was often too sporadic, and their transitions from defense to attack lacked the sharpness and fluidity seen under Gerrard. This resulted in a team that was vulnerable to counter-attacks and struggled to break down resilient defenses.

Van Bronckhorst also struggled to integrate new signings effectively, with some players not fitting into the system or not reaching the expected level of performance. There was also a reliance on a few key players, and when they were unavailable, the team often struggled to find the same quality and drive.

Overall, while Rangers had moments of quality, under Gio, the team often lacked the necessary squad depth and tactical fluidity to remain competitive on all fronts. This inconsistency ultimately proved to be his undoing, as Rangers couldn’t meet the demands of both the league and European competition.