Gio shoots down Rangers 'not my squad' verdict after one year in charge but vows January transfers are inevitable

Van Bronckhorst spoke to Sky Sports to as he reflects on exactly one year in charge at Ibrox.

Under pressure Gio van Bronckhorst doesn't accept the excuse that he doesn't have "his" squad yet - although admits changes will need to be made in January.

The Rangers boss marks exactly one year in the job on Friday and it's been a rollercoaster 12 months for the Dutchman. He experienced the euphoria of reaching the Europa League final and winning the Scottish Cup in his first season, but things has short in the Premiership with Celtic charging to last season's league title and going into the World Cup break on track to retain it.

Injuries have had their impact on Gers form with van Bronckhorst having to make do without a number of key men, including Connor Goldson and Ryan Jack, for long spells. New signing John Souttar hasn't kicked a ball since the opening day of the season and at one point he had as many as ten players missing for a Champions League clash with Ajax.

Of van Bronckhorst's current squad, only eight players have been signed during his tenure and there has been a recent reliance on stalwarts like Steven Davis and Scott Arfield. But he doesn't accept that as an excuse - insisting that the players he inherited is are his players as much as new signings like Ben Davies and Malik Tillman.

He told Sky Sports : "Every player in the squad is my player. It doesn't mean I have to get new players then it's my team. That's not my job. From the moment I stepped in that door, these are my players and I work with the players.

"Sometimes you go and you change things because players are out of contract or we sell them and we have to refresh the squad, but every player is my player. I don't like new managers saying 'this is not my squad', this is my squad."

He does however accept that January deals are inevitable as he added: "I speak almost every day with Ross (Wilson) and we need to see how my squad is when the window comes closer. In every window you have to make sure you end the window stronger than you started. You can see what is possible and what we can do. We always want a better squad.

"Of course I have enjoyed year one. Overall I have enjoyed every minute of the year. Just like in life you have bad moments and good moments, difficult moments and high moments. It's been a whole year like this and I'm very blessed and grateful to be the manager of this football club."

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