Lawrence Shankland admits Rangers' failure to reach Europe 'feels embarrassing'
Lawrence Shankland has admitted Rangers' failure to qualify for European football “feels” embarrassing as the striker delivered a candid assessment of the club's difficult start to the season ahead of their trip to Pittodrie.
Rangers were eliminated from the Conference League by Jablonec on penalties in Czechia on Thursday, meaning they will not have European football to look forward to for the remainder of the campaign.
Shankland made no attempt to hide his disappointment at the outcome, insisting Rangers cannot accept the situation as a group despite having to deal with the consequences for the rest of the season.
“There's no shying away or denying the disappointment,” Shankland said to Sky Sports.
“Being involved in European football, we can't accept that as a group. Obviously for this season we're going to need to, but for us as a group to be representing the football club and not manage to get Europe is obviously, I don't like to use the word embarrassing because it's kind of an insult to our opposition, but that's kind of how it feels.”
“I think we're trying to be a team who plays on the front foot, both in and out of possession.
“I can maybe see it because I've had the luxury of working with the manager before so I can kind of see the ideas, I'm used to them and maybe I can get them a bit quicker than the other boys.”
Shankland accepts, however, that implementing a new manager's ideas across an entire squad takes time.
“That can obviously be a frustration for the manager as well when you're trying to get the ideas and implement them in the group and it does take a bit of time,” he said.
“But as we showed previously, it can bring success the way we went about things and hopefully we can learn fast because we're going to need to with the amount of games coming up.”
Shankland explains why Rangers need patience
The 31-year-old believes Rangers are still attempting to find their strongest XI, establish a rhythm and determine the right balance within the squad.
“It's probably still at this stage, trying to find your strongest 11, trying to find a rhythm for the team and a balance that suits the squad that we've got to put the personnel out there to make it work,” he explained.
“It's difficult when the results don't go your way and it can make things feel a whole lot worse obviously, but we know what we're trying to do and we do need to get better at it and get better at it quick because we need to start winning football games, we all know that.”
Shankland also rejected the idea that Rangers players are lacking effort, suggesting the desire to make things right can sometimes contribute to performances becoming disjointed.
“People can use the term trying too hard but it can be the case sometimes, it's just everybody's trying to give their all and it's not quite coming together and that can be a frustration for everybody,” he said.
“But we just need everybody to stick together and be on the same page.
“You need to be a team and as soon as people start going as individuals there's no chance.”
Shankland admits he wanted better start
The Rangers captain was also frank about his own performances since arriving at Ibrox, acknowledging that his goalscoring record has not yet reached the level he expects of himself.
“As it is I've known throughout my career, the main thing I've been judged on is probably goal scoring and obviously at the minute it's not quite happened as much as I'd want in front of goal,” Shankland said.
“When you're playing in a team that collectively is struggling a wee bit as well, that never helps.
“There's been a lot of players coming in and out of the team as well, not just for myself but a lot of players, so everybody's in the same boat individually.
“Everybody's trying to find that rhythm, try to find that best bit of form you can.”
The striker also addressed the scrutiny that comes with playing for Rangers and argued that Scottish football can be particularly quick to judge players.
“I think that's probably just a culture thing in Scotland,” he said.
“I think we judge people really quickly and we like to write people off.”
“I know I'll face that, I know I'd face that coming here, I've faced it at every club I've been at.
“As I've said I wanted to have a better start than I've had here but it's not the case and in this moment this is where we're at.
“I'm positive. I'm positive within it.”
And despite the difficult opening to the campaign, Shankland believes there is enough quality and character within the Rangers dressing room to change the narrative.
“Of course it's disappointing times as I've said, we're obviously getting over that but I'm positive to what's to come ahead,” he added.
“I know there's enough good boys in that changing room there to try and put things right and when we get it right we can hopefully be happy coming into the season.”
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