Soon-to-be Rangers manager Kevin Muscat has broken his silence since being approached to manage Ibrox and has announced that he is ready to challenge for the title at Shanghai Port. The Daily Record has revealed that the Australian is set to replace Russell Martin in the Ibrox dugout, with a multi-year deal almost confirmed.
Muscat is under contract with the Chinese Super League until December 2026, so Glasgow Titans are currently negotiating compensation with Port. As it stands, it is doubtful whether Muscat will be allowed to leave the current Chinese champions before the end of the season on November 22, given the club’s ongoing title contention.
Under-19s coach Stephen Smith will take charge of Rangers for this weekend’s game against Dundee United, while Neil McCann will take over temporarily until Muscat arrives, after which he will join the coaching staff.
Speaking for the first time since agreeing terms, Muscat has his sights firmly set on retaining the Super League title with Shanghai.
Muscat, who will face relegation-threatened Qingdao Sea Cows, will not take a step back from their current challenge and the “importance” of competing for the title.
He said: “After the last AFC Champions League game, we took a break and used this time to reflect and summarize the games so far.
“The players, coaching staff and staff had a short vacation with their families. After the vacation, the players worked hard, putting in a lot of effort both mentally and physically.”
“They did a great job in all practice sessions and responded well to all the challenges during practice. We know the importance of this game and we want to come into the game with a great performance.”
Muscat refused to compare the two teams based on their league positions, saying: “I don’t know how to compare them.
“It’s difficult to compare the performances of different teams in the table with us, but what I can say is that our own performance is the most important aspect.
“We will show responsibility and reliability. This is what I have emphasized since I joined the team.”
“Our own performance is the most important. We have to remember that no match is easy. We have to perform well and make sure we play as we should.”
“This is our main focus tomorrow and we will do everything in our power to achieve it.”
