Jack Butland’s first season in Scotland has been full of happiness and misery.
All that remains to be seen is whether it will finish in a face-saving Hampden high or another sickener in the Scottish Cup Final. But, in any case, the Rangers No. 1 is adamant that he will reflect on his initial season at Ibrox and be satisfied with a job well done. The Englishman moved north of the border last summer after spending a year warming up in the stands among Manchester United’s fringe players.
The previous two seasons at Crystal Palace proved to be frustrating as he juggled injury difficulties and troughs in form. However, while this season’s events in Glasgow have ebbed and flowed for Rangers, Butland deserves credit for emerging as the club’s one constant, the steady figure of stability at the back while those up front took turns losing the plot.
His career highlights include a Viaplay Cup winner’s medal, his first award, a prominent role in Gers’ Europa League run to the last 16, and 57 games out of 58 this year.
If the Ibrox side can win their first Old Firm game of the season on the penultimate day of term next Saturday, they might add a second trophy to their highlights reel. Even if they do, the pleasure of a potential cup double is likely to be overshadowed by the dread of Celtic securing another league title. Whatever happens, Butland knows he’s done everything he can to help the Ibrox cause.
“Listen I’ve loved it,” he insisted after pulling the curtain down on Gers’ Premiership campaign with a fittingly bonkers 3-3 draw at Tynecastle. “It’s been eventful. It’s had its ups and down.
“There’s been some incredible moments but ultimately we’ve fallen short of our main goal which was to win the league. So yeah, there’s been some down moments over the last couple of weeks.
“You know, when you’ve put so much effort into that ambition and then for it to be gone, yeah, it hits you like a ton of bricks I suppose. But I’ve loved this last 12 months. I’ve loved the challenge, I’ve loved the experience.
“I’ve loved my work and I’ve loved trying to help the boys. I’ve loved doing what I’m doing and I’ve really enjoyed playing in front of our fans everywhere we go and at Ibrox.
“It’s been enjoyable and I know it’s had it’s disappointments. We haven’t achieved what we wanted to achieve but I’ve really enjoyed myself.”
Clement is already looking ahead to the upcoming season. The big Belgian has dug into Michael Beale’s book of soundbites after discussing intentions for a “rebuild” and a “overhaul” that will be as stark off the pitch as it is on it.
Changes will be made to how the club identifies and recruits talent, as well as big changes to the medical department, as Clement attempts to reduce the number of injuries that have blighted his first seven months in charge.
But Butland insists the best way to set the club up for a successful season next term is to make sure they end this one on a winning note. Asked if victory at Hampden next week could act as a platform to bounce off, he said: “It has to. It has to be the demand of everybody to win trophies. It has to be the demand of the club, the manager, the players, all of us – the demand has to be to win.
“It’s important that you finish the season strong. Like I said about the league, we didn’t achieve what we wanted to. But if we can finish the season strong then we have to use that as a platform, we have to use it one way or another to kick on and to be better next season.”
Gers will need to be much sharper than they were in Edinburgh on Saturday. Goals from Ross McCausland, Todd Cantwell, and Fabio Silva appeared to win victory over Hearts, but a late collapse saved Stevie Naismith from a sixth defeat in six games against Gers.
The Jambos, on the other hand, would not have had a chance coming into those last minutes if Cyriel Dessers had not squandered his latest barrowload of chances. Rangers’ troubles this season have been centred on sloppy shooting and reckless defending, and Butland concedes they will face even more trouble if they repeat against Brendan Rodgers’ champions.
He said: “We’ve still scored three on Saturday – but we can’t concede three. So there are things that we need to learn.
“Yes we’ve got some inexperience in there at the back, we’ve had some changes and this, that and the other. Everyone will make excuses for us but we have to learn and we have to be better. It’s as simple as that.
“Recently, we’ve conceded far too many goals. That’s pretty simple and we need to stamp that out before next weekend. But if you score three, you should win the game.”
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