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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Alfredo Morelos 'reliance' costing Rangers as Ibrox hero demands board splash the cash to catch Celtic

Rangers legend Mark Hateley reckons Rangers have relied on Alfredo Morelos too much - and need new blood in the transfer window.

Talisman Morelos missed the derby defeat to Celtic on Sunday with Kemar Roofe leading the Rangers attack.

Rangers failed to take any of their chances as they piled the pressure on Ange Postecoglou's side in the second half without the focal point of the Colombian.

Hateley insists the post-mortem must be taking place over the recruitment in the last two windows following the romp to Premiership glory last season.

He claims Steven Gerrard should have been given the tools to add while the club were in a position of strength last summer.

Hateley told Sky Sports: "Have we relied on Alfredo (Morelos) too much? Possibly so.

"Why have we relied on him too much? Because probably a lack of investment carrying on from the end of last season.

"These are all questions being banded out there. We have to build from a place of strength, we did that when I played here.

"When Steven (Gerrard) was here, he'd have been listening to Walter Smith and Walter's advice would be to build from a position of strength. Winning the league you always add to it.

"As I see it, the squad is a good squad but we haven't bought any fresh blood in.

"The demands from last season, that passes on to the supporters and they expect.

"It is difficult, trust me, the period I played here in the nine in a row, demand after demand after demand.

"You set the bar very high and in my era we weren't allowed to drop below that.

"If you did drop below those performance levels you were out of the club.

"It's good to bring in fresh blood of a quality that's always going to be challenging for a first team slot, that keeps everyone focussed, and it keeps the fans happy as well."

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst (L) with Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou after the clash at Ibrox (SNS Group)

Hateley added that Gio van Bronckhorst needs time and the signings to put his own stamp on the Rangers team, admitting it could take up to FOUR windows to revamp the Ibrox dressing room.

He added: "A new manager coming in, he's had a window - a new manager coming in at this level under these demands will probably need three or four to put his mark onto the football club.

"It was important that we won the game and that didn't happen so it's important now to focus on the new game.

"Gio has to gather everyone together again for a massive game on Thursday, a massive game on Sunday and then the semi final against your biggest rivals again. This is what the players should be demanding as well."

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