Giovanni van Bronckhhorst faces a difficult task turning the tide at Rangers - but he more than merits the time to do so.
The Dutch boss hasn't lost to any other domestic side outside Celtic since arriving as manager at Ibrox last November but waning performances and a calamitous Champions League Group A campaign have resulted in calls for his sacking. Football is a harsh business but 16 goals conceded against Ajax, Napoli and Liverpool with one goal in response has them eliminated from Europe's top table with two games to go.
One of those is against Napoli tonight, the rampant Serie A side who have already put four past Liverpool on home soil. Off the back of a 1-1 draw with Livingston that leaves them four points behind Celtic in the Premiership title race, former Rangers right-back Alan Hutton says a trip to Naples is perhaps something his ex-employers could do without.
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A heavy loss to Napoli and dropped points versus Aberdeen this Saturday could prove costly for Van Bronckhorst, but Hutton reckons time is needed after a summer of signings which has so far been criticised overall.
Speaking exclusively to Glasgow Live Sport and Cheeky Punter, the prominent pundit said: "I think Europe isn't helping, we can't hide from the fact that they have no points, 16 goals conceded and only 1 scored.
"That pressure is then building, especially after how good Europe was last season, albeit there's a massive step up in class this year.
"But in the league, I don't think they have been at their free-flowing best but he deserves more time. I understand when you're the Rangers manager, you have to win games and trophies but I would like to see him given more time.
"He's been under pressure for his recruitment and other things but you need to allow time for those players to bed in."
Heightened pressure according to Hutton means something positive has to come of Rangers' trip to Napoli, even if they perhaps don't want to be there. It doesn't take away from the bare minimum requirement of silverware in Govan.
He explained: "It's probably a game he (Van Bronckhorst) doesn't want now, they haven't been beaten in the League, never mind the Champions League, so to go there is going to be tough.
"A massive performance is needed just to stay in the game, never mind win. Geo will know and he might even go five at the back. The fans will want to see the energy that we saw last season. They need a positive result against Napoli, even if it's just the manner in which they play the game.
"They are only four points off Celtic so they are still in there. The main challenge is to win the league and that will never change. They have to win a trophy at the least because it's not acceptable to go through a season as a Rangers player and not get any silverware. I still think they are in the race, Celtic have been playing really well, demonstrating a high standard of football. Rangers haven't but they are still there.
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