Rangers fitness supremo Jack Ade is the man tasked with getting Michael Beale’s squad in shape and return them to their once, relentless condition.
With pre-season training well underway, a short trip to Germany gives the head of performance the chance to impart his ideas fully for the first-time since arriving last season.
Sometimes last year, Rangers looked like a pale imitation of the side that got stronger in extra-time game-after-game, and Jack Ade has brought back an old favourite with the players blessing, as revealed on RTV.
Under Steven Gerrard, the Light Blues were a robust and fighting fit unit.
They experienced injuries, as do all clubs, but the conditioning levels could never be questioned.
Jordan Milsom was previously in charge but he followed Gerrard to Aston Villa, now the highly resepcted Ade, has his chance to put his own plans into place.
One aspect of Rangers pre-season under Gerrard and, of course, Michael Beale, was the gruelling 5 x 3minute interval running sessions that proved to be the foundation of the players’ conditioning.
What Rangers pre-season looks like revealed by Jack Ade
According to Rangers fitness chief Jack Ade, the players have backed their return:
“We’re doing some double sessions, which we did do last week where we do some isolated running.
“We do five, three minute runs, which is a running programme that the players and manager are familiar with from a couple of years ago and, obviously, brought them good success.
“The feedback from the players was that they felt it was very beneficial during pre-season a couple of years ago.
“So, that’s something we’ve already started with and it’s really nice to get just a marker of where the new players are as well.
“It’s not always everyone’s most enjoyable session but the certainly understand the benefits of it and it’s a good one for building camaraderie.”
Scott Arfield talked about the difference in tempo last season in pre-season under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and fans often thought there was a noticeable decrease in fitness too.
Ade talks about double sessions being the norm whilst, as reported by The Athletic last season, it was the exception.
Technique rather than intensity being the primary focus.
Injury rates, sluggish performances and hints from the players suggested that they might be right.
Conversely, the players looked more than sharp enough in games against Union Saint Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven.
What the Rangers fitness guru’s comments lead us to believe is that the there is a a psychological element to doing the hard yards and that they weren’t happy with last year’s workload, with Jack Ade taking the steps needed to correct this.
Footballers are creatures of habit and in a season where they were relentless, fitness was key, hopefully, the habit this year is winning trophies.
