Rangers defender Derek Cornelius says Marseille experience helped him handle fan pressure

Derek Cornelius insists he is relishing the challenge of stepping into the “chaos” at Rangers.

The 27-year-old Canada defender joined the Light Blues on loan from French side Marseille earlier in the month, by which time disgruntled Gers fans had already turned on boss Russell Martin following a dismal start to the season.

Cornelius made his debut as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 home defeat by Hearts which heaped further pressure on the club’s under-fire boss.

The former Vancouver Whitecaps and Malmo player started in the side which beat Hibernian 2-0 at the weekend, when there were protests inside and outside the stadium against Martin and chief executive Patrick Stewart.

Ahead of the Europa League opener against Belgian side Genk at Ibrox on Thursday night, Cornelius said: “At clubs like Rangers, there’s an expectation to win.

“And that extra pressure that we’re getting from outside and maybe the chaos that I’m stepping into, I view it as a privilege and as a challenge to come here and try to help the situation.

“I don’t think it impacted me negatively and I tried to look at the positives in the situation.

“Individually, I don’t think it was so hard to block out the noise.

“When you sign up to be a professional footballer, it’s kind of the stuff that can come with the job when things are not going well, you’ll hear about it, you’re going to feel some sort of pressure from outside.

“But at the end of the day it comes down to what’s happening on the pitch.

“So for me, it hasn’t really affected me that much. I had my job to do, my role to play, to just try and win games for Rangers.”

Cornelius believes his time at Marseille has “definitely” helped prepare him for the rigours of Rangers.

He said: “Clubs like Marseille and Rangers, it’s clubs with fan bases that live and die for the club and when you wear that badge and you represent clubs like that, you have a responsibility to really show on the pitch for them.

“So playing at Marseille last season gave me a little bit of experience of just what I’m getting into coming to Rangers.

“But, ultimately, if you put too much focus on that as well, it’s not going to help your performance.

“So I try and just go one day at a time, be the best I can be, and just help whichever club I’m at to win games because I know that’s going to be the solution to any problems.”