THE differences between pressure and expectation are nothing new to Michael Beale. He doesn't just want to win, he needs to win.
The office that Beale holds as Rangers manager is a special one and there are few positions in the game that come with the unique concoction of on and off field factors that make life at Ibrox as demanding and as rewarding.
Being a title challenger is worthless if the status of champions does not follow. Reaching cup finals is a means to an end, an achievement that will be dismissed unless the silverware is lifted.
That is why Beale's first stint in Glasgow has black marks against it. It was a time of sustained and continued improvement on the continent, a period where a club and a squad was rebuilt and the most cherished league flag of all was won as 55 was celebrated.
But one triumph, even one as historic as that, is never enough for a support that demands more and more and Beale will be judged in the same way as all of his predecessors. Ultimately, it is what you win that determines your fate and defines your legacy.
Victory over Aberdeen on Sunday would secure a place in the Viaplay Cup final and be another achievement for the Scottish Cup holders. Yet it is only by going all the way in the competition that Beale will have something tangible to hold on to as he continues to improve Rangers once again.
“There are very few teams around the world that can win," Beale said. "Who, generally at the start of the season, believe they can win the league.
“Maybe two or three teams in every league are like that. We’re fortunate in that we are a team in this county that when the season starts believe we can win.
“While you’re here you have to take every opportunity to win in games like this at the weekend.
“If you look in England, in the Championship and around Europe, how many managers at the start of each season actually believe they can win.
"For some teams in the Premier League winning might be getting into Europe. Here, you have to go on and win trophies.
"I’m aware of that and that’s what I’m here to try and do. I’m hoping I can settle my own score in the League Cup.
“It isn't pressure, it’s expectation. And if you don’t have any expectations then you’re probably not working at the level you’d like to.”
The situation that Beale inherited in terms of the Premiership has not improved or deteriorated over the last six weeks and five wins from his first half-a-dozen fixtures are only good enough to keep Rangers nine points adrift of Celtic.
Few expected Beale to be able to salvage those title ambitions in the second half of the season but the narrative in the cup competitions is different. There, he has no excuses and any failures will be on the shoulders of the manager and his players.
The final fortnight of January will shape the longer term picture as Beale seeks to add to his squad. With a Scottish Cup tie at St Johnstone to come next weekend, it could also shape what is possible in terms of trophies.
“In this month we don’t want to be any further behind in the league," Beale said. “We want to be in a final, we want to be in the next round of the Scottish Cup and we want to recruit more players to take me towards where I want to go and my vision of where this team needs to be.
“I want to re-energise the team in terms of age. Re-energise it in terms of energy as well and I want to go on some new journeys.
“I’ve come back and there are some new players in the building like Malik (Tillman), Antonio (Colak), Ridvan (Yilmaz), John Souttar and Tom Lawrence. I’ve not been able to work with all those guys just yet, only Malik.
“I want to bring in some exciting new players. It’s important I have players in the building who want to be here and are excited. They will re-energise the group and create a bit of heat for positions.”
The injury situation continues to cause issues and offer hope for Rangers. Sooner rather than later, there could be new arrivals at Ibrox as Beale seeks to add to his squad for the first time.
The return of Kemar Roofe has been offset by the struggles of Colak. Yilmaz is still another three or four weeks away from returning to the matchday squad, while the timescales regarding Lawrence remain unclear after what Beale described as a delay as he works through an isolated rehabilitation programme.
Robby McCrorie's ankle issue is a new one but longer term absentees Souttar and Ianis Hagi are now within days of featuring. The Aberdeen fixture may come too soon for James Sands, though, after he was named on the bench at Tannadice out of necessity only.
That fixture was another game of two halves for Rangers and Beale could take satisfaction from the way in which his players responded to his messages at the interval. Confidence continues to steadily grow and there will be no shortage of support at the National Stadium on Sunday.
"You go there and there are 35,000 Rangers fans," Beale said. "Over this week we have three games – one at neutral venue and two away games.
"It’s a real tough week for us, a big week in our season. And we’ll have in excess of 55,000 or 60,000 Rangers fans visiting those games.
"Our support is absolutely fantastic so it doesn’t always feel like a neutral venue. Even when we play away, at Dundee United last week, it was the Rangers fans I could hear.
"So our backing is good, that helps, and it’s important we keep moving forward.
"We’ve scored quite a few goals since I came in. I’m not massive on xG, I’ve said that before, but even our nerds in the office tell me that’s in a good place as well."
