THE cup competitions have given Ryan Jack the full range of emotions - from tears to cheers - during his Rangers career. The next fortnight could shape another season of memories.
Jack was left deflated and distraught in the aftermath of the Hampden defeat to Celtic in 2019 and losses to Aberdeen and Hibernian at the National Stadium have been just as difficult to come to terms with. Even during the highs of the 55 season, being dumped out of the cups by St Mirren and St Johnstone took some of the shine off the campaign.
The knockout record during Steven Gerrard's tenure wasn't good enough by Rangers' standards and the man that is now striving to add another two titles to the roll of honour is fully aware of the history and the expectation. So is Jack as he aims to inspire Michael Beale's side to silverware successes.
It was Giovanni van Bronckhorst who finally ended the long wait for a medal as he guided Ranges to glory and victory over Hearts - earned thanks to goals from Jack and Scott Wright - just days after the heartache of Seville. The hoodoo was broken and Hampden now holds hope for Rangers once again.
The importance of the League Cup semi-final with Aberdeen on Sunday cannot be underestimated for Beale. A week later, he takes Rangers to St Johnstone as their Scottish Cup aspirations are put on the line at a time when their Premiership dreams are no better than faint.
“We obviously had a few sore ones in the cups during that time," Jack said of the seasons when Beale was Gerrard's right hand man at Ibrox. “As a club and a squad of players we’ve been looking to put that right.
“Obviously last year we won the Scottish Cup and we want to win both cups again this year too. We’ll work as hard as we can this week and we look forward to the game.
“They just drive you on to be better. For me, I know the expectations and the demands of the club, the fans and the staff for us to go win trophies. For us as players, we need to go answer that."
Rangers made the trip to Hampden at this stage of the League Cup last term in disarray after Gerrard, Beale and his staff left to join Aston Villa. As Van Bronckhorst watched on from the stands, David McCallum oversaw a lamentable loss to Hibernian.
The season ended with a silver lining at least and that now has to be the ambition for Beale. His Premiership fate is ultimately not in his own hands, but there are no excuses when it comes to the cups and the chance to lay down a marker cannot be squandered as Rangers seek to salvage two triumphs from a campaign that threatened to spiral out of control not long ago.
Five wins from six matches, the latest of which came against Dundee United on Sunday, has put Rangers in a positive frame of mind and there are signs of progression under Beale's guidance. Like all managers at Ibrox, that must translate into trophies.
“That’s the aim for me and the team and the staff," Jack said. “Since the manager has come in he’s said we want to go win both cups.
“Obviously with me being here for a number of years, I know the demands the fans put on us to go win every trophy.
“The boys will be ready for next week and it’s a chance for to get back to Hampden and another cup final.
“Look, we’re expected to go win every competition we’re in. The supporters demand it, the manager and the staff demand that from us.
“But for us as players, we want to go win as many trophies as we can. You want to have something to look back on at the end of your career.
“That’s the focus for this weekend. We’ll work as hard as we can and as soon as the game comes, we’ll make sure we’re ready."
The signs so far have been encouraging for Rangers. A complete, 90 minute showing continues to elude them but the results are more important than the performances at present as Beale implements a style and continues to rebuild confidence and momentum.
The transition from Van Bronckhorst to Beale was never going to be seamless but Rangers are on the right track and victory at Tannadice was more than merited as Beale's side moved through the gears after the break and got their rewards thanks to strikes from Fashion Sakala and Malik Tillman.
It has not always been pretty and it has not been perfect so far. It has been positive, though, and the way of working that once masterminded European progress and Premiership dominance will pay dividends if Rangers can continue on an upward trajectory.
“We just keep working hard every day and put everything we can into each individual match," Jack said. “So far it’s been going well. We still want to strive to get better performance wise but results wise we can’t really complain.
“The manager hasn’t changed too much stuff too quickly. Since he’s come in there’s been a few meetings with different players and different groups where he wants to change a few things in terms of how it works day to day and with rules etc.
“For us as players, to get to where we want to go we have to live and breath those high standards and that’s been what the manager has been demanding since he’s come in.
“Going forward, training is competitive everyday and that’s where we want to be for us to get better.
“I enjoy it, especially with the competitiveness in training and how we prepared every day. How we play also suits my game so yeah, I really enjoy it.
“I loved it last time he was here and I’m loving it so far. Hopefully it continues."
That process will continue to gather pace in the coming days. As the Auchenhowie treatment room clears and Beale makes his first moves in the market, Rangers will have a renewed vibe about them as a squad and a team and the bar will be raised once again.
Antonio Colak's return was cut short on Tayside as Kemar Roofe pulled on his boots once again. In the coming weeks, Ianis Hagi and John Souttar will do likewise as one of the issues that has plagued Rangers is, step by step, removed from the agenda.
“When we’re got a full squad fit then there’s no doubt we’ve got unbelievable talent in this squad," Jack said. “We’ve just not had that often enough this season.
“Now that we’re heading into the second half of the season, we want to get everyone fit, get everyone firing in training first and foremost. Once everyone is up to speed that will take us where we want to go."
Jack will have his own part to play in that between now and the end of the campaign. Time will tell if he will be around for any longer than that, though, as his Ibrox contract ticks down.
The 30-year-old has expressed his desire to extend his Rangers career but the focus remains on his football and his fitness as his future is put on the backburner for now.
“No, nothing has changed since the last time I spoke to the media," Jack said when asked if there had been any update on his contract situation. "Everything is still the same. There’s been nothing.
“Look, I’ve said it before, I just want to play every game and as many as I can, work as hard as I can.
“When the time comes we’ll sit down and we’ll speak. But it’s not the time yet. I just want to focus on doing well for the club, trying to play every week and staying fit."
