Rangers defender James Penrice has hit back at doubts over the club's mentality, insisting the squad is full of talent and determined to prove their critics wrong in the title race.
Speaking exclusively to Record Sport at the club's Auchenhowie training centre, the 27-year-old acknowledged that the question of mental fortitude will persist until silverware is secured. "Ultimately, we'll never know (if we have the mentality to win a title) until we go and do it. But we're littered with talent. The talent in here is ridiculous. In every position, we have players who can go and make a Rangers jersey their own," he said.
Proving Doubters Wrong
Penrice, a boyhood Rangers fan, is tired of hearing about the club's perceived mental fragility, especially after a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup win over Celtic at Ibrox and a 1-0 league victory at Parkhead last month. Despite those wins, Celtic remain four points clear at the top of the league.
"We need to go and win difficult games. We need to prove to the doubters, the journalists, people on TV, that we can rock up at certain places and put big performances in. That's when you really get the credit in the bank," Penrice added. "That's when people will say, they're a really good team and the mentality is there to go and win. I think you saw that against the likes of Falkirk and Aberdeen earlier this season. They were hard places to go. But with mentality, there's always a switch."
Leadership and Culture
Manager Derek McInnes is trying to foster a new spirit at Rangers after a 15-year period largely bereft of trophies. Penrice insists the players have no excuse not to succeed, noting that when McInnes offered several squad members a day off last week, almost all refused it.
"I don't like a day off. Honestly, ask anyone, I'd rather be in here than sitting in the house. Everything that comes with this (playing for Rangers) - the boys, the facilities - you can't not become a better player," Penrice said. "It's up to us, the older ones, to push them and say - this might not be your final destination but you can have a really good crack at it at Rangers."
Old Firm Experience
Penrice, who played a hybrid role between defence and midfield in both Old Firm wins, described the experience as a dream come true. "The Old Firm games were unbelievable. Just having that nervousness and anxiety going into games that I've watched for the last 20 years of my life. I was thinking I'd never get the chance to play in one," he said.
He now wants Rangers to show the same grit in every game. "These games take care of themselves. You're always going to be up for them. It's the other ones where you need to show your mentality. Where you act like you ARE playing against them. That's what has to click. And when it does, we'll be rolling."
