Former Rangers captain Lorenzo Amoruso has never been one to mince his words, and his latest assessment of the current squad is no exception.
Speaking to Italian outlet La Gazzetta ahead of tonight's defeat to Roma the 54-year-old offered a blunt reflection on what he perceives as a decline in standards at Ibrox, both in terms of performance and personality on the pitch.
Amoruso, who spent six years with Rangers between 1997 and 2003, remains a cult figure among supporters for his leadership, physical presence, and role in winning multiple domestic honours – despite the occasional error.
His era was one defined by intensity, expectation, and an unwavering demand to win.
Looking at the present side, however, the former defender believes those qualities have faded.
“It’s changed a bit from my time, given the disastrous results,” he said when asked about the current atmosphere surrounding the club.
“But it’s like a fire that is here under the ashes.”
The metaphor suggests that while the passion and potential still exist within the fanbase and the institution, the spark on the pitch is missing.
Amoruso did not hold back in his evaluation of the squad itself.
He said: “The squad is not up to much, with players without direction.”
In his view, the issue is not simply technical ability, but mentality, the attributes required to play under the pressure of a club where every match is scrutinised and every setback amplified.
“People can think of Scotland like lower league football, but Rangers have history. I’m a symbol of it.
“You need balls to wear the shirt, it’s not easy.”
His comments underline a sentiment shared by many supporters: Rangers is not a club where merely competing is acceptable.
Success is not optional; it is demanded. The expectations are embedded in the culture of Ibrox, forged through decades of triumphs, rivalries, and the weight of the blue jersey itself.
Amoruso’s most telling remark came when he addressed the standards required in the Scottish Premiership. “In that league, to finish second is a failure,” he stated.
It is a reminder that, for Rangers, the challenge is not just to be competitive, it is to dominate.
Whether one agrees with Amoruso’s criticism or not, his words speak to the pressures and identity of Rangers Football Club.
In his eyes, the issue is not simply about signing better players, but about rediscovering the hunger, resilience, and personality that once defined the team, and which, he believes, must return if that fire under the ashes is ever to ignite again.