Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst targets fast Premiership start in title pursuit

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst says his side need a strong start to boost their chances of finishing the season as Premiership champions.

The Ibrox side begin their league campaign against Livingston on Saturday lunchtime, hoping to lay down an early marker in the title race.

Rangers enjoyed a memorable season last time out with Scottish Cup success and a thrilling run to the Europa League final, but one source of regret for Van Bronckhorst and his squad was failing to successfully defend the trophy they won the year before, with Celtic winning the league.

The Ibrox boss says the domestic title is the priority this time around and his side are ready to make a positive start.

“That is the most important competition we are in,” the Dutchman said.

“Next year we want to be champions of Scotland again.

“We didn’t last year so we start all over again and we have to make sure we have a good start and that starts tomorrow against Livingston.

“We have prepared well, we are ready for the challenge we will face and it is very important we get a good start and get the first three points of the season tomorrow.”

The trip to Livingston is followed by the first Champions League qualifier against Union Saint-Gilloise and Rangers are hoping to enjoy another season of continental as well as domestic success.

“The expectation is always high, when you are doing really well in the last four years, always involved in Europe after the break,” Van Bronckhorst said.

“Obviously reaching the final last year is a huge achievement so that will bring expectations as well but it is a new campaign, every game in Europe is quite hard, we just have to make sure we are ready for every game we play.

“The month of August is very important because we have the possibility to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League so we have to take it step by step as we did really well last year and also in previous seasons.”