MICHAEL BEALE reckons Malik Tillman has achieved what high-profile Premier League stars couldn’t at Ibrox after settling into Scottish football and starring at Rangers.
The American netted his ninth goal of a terrific debut campaign during the Scottish Cup victory over Partick Thistle on Sunday.
The controversial nature of the strike – as he was caught unawares by a restart of play and netted as the Jags attempted to return the ball to Rangers – was the main talking point after the fifth round fixture.
Tillman was absolved of any blame for the confusion at Ibrox as Beale ordered his side to allow Thistle to equalise before going on to win and book their place in the last eight of the competition.
And the Englishman was eager to talk up the quality and character of the Bayern Munich protege as he continues to go from strength to strength in an impressive term.
Beale said: “Listen, since I have been here and since the first interview I said I was excited to work with him.
“I think he is a fantastic young player and he has been terrific for the last few weeks, absolutely outstanding.
“I am glad that we collectively made the decision we did because I didn’t want to be sitting here talking about Malik Tillman in a different light.
“He was completely unawares. Malik deserves things said and written about him that are the right things because his effort his fantastic, his quality is fantastic.
“He won us a penalty. He is driving up the pitch, he is taking on a lot of information for a 20-year-old. I couldn’t be happier with his contribution.
“He is a very good player and that is why he has come from such a prestigious club. As a 20-year-old, he is a full international, played through all the youth levels for Germany and gone to play for America through his parents and has played senior international as well.
“He has come into our league, he has had to adjust. It is not easy, we have seen players come out of the Premier League and take time to adjust in this league and players with big reputations have struggled.
“He is getting stronger and stronger. He is learning a new position, which will keep him in good stead moving forward playing in midfield and moving out of there.
“He is a joy to work with every single day. Such a shy, humble lad. I am glad that he is doing well. I can’t ask him to play poorly in case people are watching.”
Rangers were off the pace for large spells against the Jags and Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell were hooked at the break as Beale sought to spark his side into action.
Goals from Antonio Colak and James Sands, either side of the Tilllman controversy and a James Tavernier penalty miss, were enough to secure a win that was merited but far from accomplished.
Beale said: “They train together every single day so they have ample opportunity to build their relationship.
"I just felt that everyone was coming to the ball first half and second half we played down the sides more, we ran more. That is how we got a penalty, that is how we got our goal.
“Second half we were much better but first half I felt, for whatever reason, we weren’t quite at it as much defensively as we weren’t in possession. Our pressing wasn’t there.
“Think back to two weeks to Hearts where we pressed collectively as a team. I came away from that today so that is on me a bit. I will protect the players.
“But what I will say is that there were a lot of good players in that starting line-up today and they owe it to each other to perform at a higher level in my opinion.”
