Lee McCulloch insists Rangers new boys WON'T feel Champions League heat as he outlines key role for Ibrox old guard

Lee McCulloch says Rangers’ raft of new signings WON’T feel the pressure to reach the Champions League. Instead, he believes the heat is on the Ibrox club’s more experienced players as they bid to reach the group stage.

Gaffer Michael Beale took his summer signing spree to nine players after Jose Cifuentes’ arrival last week. And they face a huge challenge early in their Rangers careers – to navigate two tricky Champions League qualifying rounds. Their first test is on Wednesday night against Swiss side Servette, when the likes of Jack Butland, Cyriel Dessers, Danilo and Cifuentes could make their Euro debuts.

But McCulloch, who spent eight years at Ibrox and played in the Champions League, says seasoned pros like James Tavernier and Connor Goldson must guide the new boys through it. Ahead of the first-leg tie in midweek, he said: “These games are all about getting through and the new signings might come in a little bit blind when it comes to expectation levels.

"That can work as a positive because they’re not used to it and won’t feel pressure. I was speaking to Danilo last week and he’s super excited.

“He’s going to be a top player and you can tell he has that bit of confidence about him. If you have nine new players, not used to the demands, it can work as a positive.

You really prove your mettle at Rangers if things go against you. But that’s when you need players around you to help. The likes of Tavernier and Goldson have been here long enough to realise it’s a good performance, a good pass or a goal that gets you out of it.

“When I had a dip here at one point, I had Davie Weir, Barry Ferguson, Allan McGregor, people like that to get me out of it. All the pressure is on the guys who have been here for years.