Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst had a pre-season fall-out with several Ibrox first teamers at a training camp in the Algarve, according to a report.
The Athletic are claiming that the Ibrox gaffer clashed with members of the Rangers squad after players drank more alcohol than he had sanctioned during the camp in Portugal.
Whilst the fall-out claim is a relatively minor one, the suggestion is that this level of insolence and disobedience to the Dutchman’s rules would not have happened under Steven Gerrard.
An excerpt from the publication’s “inside story” on the Van Bronckhorst sacking reads:
“Various sources confirmed to The Athletic that there was a disagreement on the final day of that Algarve trip between the Dutchman and a group of senior players after they consumed more alcohol than permitted in the team hotel.
“It was not the sort of major row that caused lasting damage, but people close to the players doubted whether disobedience or backchat would have occurred under Van Bronckhorst’s predecessor Steven Gerrard.”
Rangers sack manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was sacked this week after just over year in charge at Ibrox with the club slipping nine points behind in the title race.
It’s the second season in a row the Dutchman has overseen the club’s collapse against Old Firm rivals Celtic and after draws with Livingston and St Mirren, and defeat to St Johnstone, the writing was on the wall.
Rangers have collected only eight points from their last 15 available and now the club will look elsewhere as they look to haul back the points gap in the Premiership.
Despite successfully guiding the club to the Champions League group stages, Van Bronckhorst also oversaw the worst ever performance in the competition’s history this season, with Rangers finishing on 0 points with a goal difference of -20.
There are several names being mentioned as potential options for the Ibrox giants but the former England captain heading the list of favourites will certainly turn some heads.