There is never a dull moment at Rangers - and Michael Beale is facing another bumper week at Ibrox.
It's all about momentum at this stage of the season as the Light Blues prepare for the Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell, with Beale looking towards to the Scottish Cup as his main shot at a trophy during he debut season as the main man in the Ibrox dugout. Celtic haven't slipped up since the Londoner stepped into the hot seat and have maintained their nine point lead over their Glasgow rivals, but Rangers can end Ange Postecoglou's hopes of a Treble at Hampden next month.
Ahead of the trip to face Stuart Kettlewell's outfit, Beale opened up on a range of topics as he looked to continue his unbeaten league run since taking over from Gio van Bronckhorst. From the injury latest on Malik Tillman to claims of mounting pressure from club legend Mark Hateley he fielded it all at his latest press conference.
But what did Beale say? Record Sport take a look at 5 key takeaways from the boss.
Tillman timeline set
Malik Tillman has been a notable absentee for Rangers since he won his fitness race to face Celtic in the Viaplay Cup final. However, the Bayern Munich loanee didn't appear hit top form against Ange Postecoglou's men and has missed the following three games.
However, the 20-year-old is set to be in the squad that will face off against Motherwell on Saturday. Beale said: "Malik Tillman trained today so I'm delighted that he's back within the group. He trained well this morning so he's available for selection."
Ridvan ready to start?
Beale dropped a big hint that Ridvan Yilmaz could make his first start for Rangers since October when the Light Blues' make the trip to Lanarkshire. Borna Barisic is a doubt for the game with his wife expecting their first child, and after the Turkish international made his return from injury in the Scottish Cup victory against Raith the £5million summer signing could be set to kickstart his Ibrox career.
He said: "Borna's wife is due to give birth to her first child, she's running a couple of days late but then he goes on international duty so we're running tight on that one. Ridvan's fit and available to go, young Adam Devine. And you may see a change of formation where we'll play with somebody else out there as well."
Hateley's going to hate
Mark Hateley warned Beale defeat to Celtic in the next Old Firm showdown could trigger a tsunami of pressure in the final two derby games of the season - including the crucial Scottish Cup semi-final clash at Hampden. However, Beale was keen to shrug off the comments from the Ibrox legend.
Beale responded: 'The pressure is on me to win every single game, it's what I signed up for. When you are having the rough days you remember 'I knew all about this when you signed up for this'.
"It's a game we are looking forward to because we underperformed in the last one, and we probably should have won the one before that. There has not been a big gap in terms of quality and the scoreline as there was earlier in the season."
"We have shown we can win against most of the teams in the league and go on a strong run, and it's important with the next three games and with a big derby coming up we try and win more than we lose. But before that there is a lot of football to be played.
"I haven't got a magic ball that tells me who will be fit and available. But, I agree with Mark. It's probably what say so there is no issue."
No offer for Arfield
Veteran midfielder Scott Arfield has reportedly been offered a new deal at Ibrox - but Michael Beale has played down the speculation over contracts being dished out. He said: "There is not truth in any player, or contract, being signed off.
"We haven't moved anywhere since Sunday. Scott Arfield is a player I've got a lot of time for, a man I've got a lot of time for. He gives a lot around here, but that's not true."
Scottish Conference gets endorsement
Beale offered his support to controverisal plans that would see the Rangers B team introduced in a revamped tier five of the Scottish football pyramid. The proposal that is currently on the table would see Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Aberdeen Colt sides introduced to a new look Scottish Conference at the fifth tier of the pyramid.
The boss said: "There is a huge opinion on this. My own personal opinion, without being the manager of Rangers, it happens in Portugal, it happens in Holland, it happens in Germany, Italy now with Juventus. I think it would good for the development of Scottish players.
"That is my own opinion. It will divide opinion but most countries outside of England have it and there is a reason they have it."
READ NEXT
