Mark Hateley remembers when anything less than a couple of trophies in the cabinet at the end of the season would have meant jobs on the line at Rangers.
That’s why the Ibrox icon reckons there’s no way Gio van Bronckhorst will forsake Europe or the Scottish Cup for the defence of their first title in a decade.
With eight games to go in the tightest race to the line for years, Gers are still fighting at home and abroad with three trophies up for grabs.
Their double-header with Red Star Belgrade and this afternoon’s Scottish Cup clash with Dundee means van Bronckhorst’s side will have played two more games than Celtic in the fortnight between league clashes.
The effect of that extra toll on the legs will bear out in good time.
But Hateley, who reckons his Gers side were used to an average of 60 games a season, insists it cannot be used an excuse.
He said: “In the history of Rangers it’s all about trophies. They have won 55 titles, countless cups, a European trophy, that’s what the club is built on, the fans expect.
“In the last 10 years they have made one League Cup Final and a Scottish Cup Final. The supporters expect to be in finals every year.
“In my time if we didn’t have two trophies at the end of the season your job was in jeopardy.
“Winning the league is massive this season with the Champions League spot – and the money that brings –
on offer.
“But you can’t put your eggs in one basket. The fans demand you do well in every competition and still win the league.
“There is no grey area – you have to look to win every competition you enter at Rangers.
“It doesn’t matter if it is the cup, the league or Europe, they should always play their best team.
“When I was at Rangers I think the average number of games was something like 60 a season.
“And back then we had a squad of just 16 or 17 senior players who were achieving that.”
Rangers lifted a domestic Treble in 1992-93 while also becoming the first British side to compete in the Champions League.
They came within a point of reaching the final in the original format of the competition.
It was a hectic campaign but Hateley reckons the character in the squad ensured there was no way fatigue would derail their charge to a clean sweep of trophies at home.
The big Englishman sees signs of the same mentality in the current crop. He said: “We had strong characters in all departments and that gives you a chance of success.
“We got the best out of each players’ talent and Walter Smith’s man management was legendary.
“You have to be brave and take everything that’s thrown at you.
“Rangers had that in the Dortmund game – Kent, Aribo, Bassey, McGregor, Morelos. All the key components played well.”
McGregor’s hero status has been questioned in recent months after a couple of uncharacteristic errors between the sticks cost points.
But Hateley is in no doubt the veteran keeper is still the right man to handle the pressure going into the business end of the season.
He said: “Every great team has a great keeper.
“Allan’s name is now mentioned in the same sentence as Andy Goram and that speaks volumes.
“He makes incredible saves in big games and he has shown that in the European games this season.
“Last year was unique. It was a purple patch, they kept so many clean sheets and that is unlikely to ever happen again. At big clubs you are measured by the previous season. Allan has a strong mind and will always represent the club with the best of his ability.
“He’s 40 now and do people look too much at his age? I think so.
“You have the sports scientists now and if he wasn’t in top form they would know about it.
“He’s fit, strong and is still good for the team. He’s someone who is always striving for more.”
■ Hateley was promoting live Premier Sports coverage of Rangers’ game with Dundee. Find Premier Sports on Sky, Virgin TV and Premier Player, and on Amazon Prime as an add-on.
