‘Really, really special’ – Butland on Rangers love affair
Jack Butland even managed a smile when reminded of the Rangers fan who insulted him outside Ibrox after a 3-1 loss to Aberdeen in late September. The dog days of autumn seem like a lifetime ago.
Naturally, all photos were taken with a camera phone. Everything was really stressful.
Butland’s expression was a study in remorse. The Dons’ failure in the Scottish Premiership came after they had been thrashed by PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League play-off, suffered a setback against Celtic, and lost to Kilmarnock on their debut. It’s not what he had anticipated.
He recalls a tale of how, at a crowded Ibrox last summer, he signed with Rangers and participated in Allan McGregor’s testimonial match against Newcastle United. He believed he understood what
what the group was all about, but I learned a few things that day.
He noticed the affection the crowd had for his predecessor as he glanced around the stadium. He desired a portion of it for himself since it was so potent.
“I thought, ‘That might be me.'” Do you understand what I mean? “You might have a small amount of that,” Butland remarks.
In his early months, he received a little something different. A little amount of fan rage and team perplexity. A glimpse of the darker side of Glasgow life when you’re the target of abuse and discrimination from across the city.
“We were scrambling as a group,” the 30-year-old says of their time working with Michael Beale.
It was not a nice moment for us. It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t going to plan. We were heading into a dead end as we went down a cul-de-sac. We didn’t feel as though we were making the necessary progress.”
Things have changed significantly. With a trophy in hand, leading the league, qualifying for the European knockout stages, outstanding individual performance from Butland, rumors of an England call-up, and a level of consistency not seen since his prime at Stoke City in the Premier League, he has it all.
The pivotal moment came with the appointment of Philippe Clement as manager in October. It was as though a cloud cleared and clarity returned.
It was Butland’s first League Cup victory, therefore it was a seismic moment.
“It was just relief and an overload of emotion that I’d finally got one,” he recalls.
His two little boys were present to witness it. “A special, special day.”
Although Butland doesn’t divulge much about his manager, he claims that the Belgian is all about focus, clarity, and perseverance.
He says, “People think of him as this big, bad character.” “He’s not, but if he so desired, he might be. Although he is the big, terrible wolf in the media, he gives us a great sense of confidence.
From a tactical standpoint, there are some things he has been gradually instilling in us about how he wants us to play. It all comes down to efficiency, creating opportunities, moving the ball forward skillfully, and being very hard to break.
down.”
When they overthrew Celtic at the top of the league, was there no bunting at the Auchenhowie training ground?
“No,” he replies, grinning. One game at a time, it was the same old cliche. Since the management took over, things have always been this way. The boys are now bred with it. All you can do is go on to the next game. You don’t have time to relax.”
A Premier League club made an offer during the January transfer window, which was good news for Butland since it showed that he was being seen outside of Scotland, but it was never going to happen.
Not tempted?
None,” he says. “There’s a feeling and a connection here that I haven’t felt at a club for a long time. You don’t give that up easily.
“The eight months I’ve spent here have been a really, really special period in my career. This goes to the top [in terms of happiness] because it’s almost like a reward for the perseverance and patience I showed.”
His story begins as a kid at Birmingham City, where for season 2009-10 he occasionally shared a training pitch with Joe Hart – six years his senior – who was on loan from Manchester City.
Butland wants to say nice things about the current number one with title rivals Celtic, but he laughs at how they might go down.
“As much as I love the guy, he’s on the other side right now,” he says. “He was the England goalkeeper and I thought, ‘I’ve got to be this guy’.
“Joe is someone I looked up to but targeted at the same time. Ultimately, he was where I wanted to be. He certainly was a role model for me throughout my career, someone who I respect greatly.”
“As much as I love the guy, he’s on the other side right now,” he replies. “When I saw him playing goalkeeping for England, I knew I had to be this guy.”
“Joe is someone I respected, but I also saw as a target. In the end, I wanted to be with him. I really admire him, and he served as a tremendous role model for me throughout my career.”
Hart went back to Manchester and rose to the top of the English rankings. After leaving for Stoke, Butland joined Hart in the national team. In the summer of 2012, he was selected first by Team GB for the London Olympics and participated in Euro 2012.
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