Emmanuel Fernandez says he is relishing his extended run in the Rangers first team as he settles into life at a club where expectation follows every performance.
The defender has been waiting patiently for his chance since arriving from English side Peterborough United in the summer, admitting, “It’s something I’ve been waiting for, something I’ve wanted to do for a while now.
“I just need to keep rhythm, keep focus and keep going.”
With each game he plays, Fernandez feels a deeper connection to the demands at Rangers, a club where pressure is both unrelenting and defining.
“Yeah, 100%,” he said when asked if he now understands the weight of expectation.
““I can feel it and I know the pressure, but I like pressure. That’s the reason I wanted to play football growing up.
“I feel like I’m a player that can be good when it gets hard.”
That adjustment period has accelerated over recent weeks, with Fernandez highlighting the mental side of playing for Rangers as the biggest lesson so far.
“The main thing is just to stay focused during the games,” he explained.
“As long as you stay focused and believe in what the manager wants us to do, we'll come out on the receiving end.”
Communication, concentration and discipline, he says, are what allow him to operate with greater confidence.
Reflecting on his performances since breaking into the team, he described his form as encouraging but far from complete.
“I would say it’s been a bit positive but there’s still improvements, I’d say I’ve been positive so far.”
That humility reflects his understanding that every game carries scrutiny, particularly at Ibrox, where fans expect not just results but dominance.
A key factor in his smooth transition has been the senior support within the squad. Fernandez admitted he was initially nervous entering a dressing room full of established figures, but those concerns quickly disappeared.
He said: “They’ve been amazing. Everyone’s been welcoming - you can talk to anyone.
“If you need help, there’s many players you can go to – [James] Tavernier, Jack Butland, Liam Kelly, anyone.”
He is also building a defensive partnership with Nasser Djiga, one that he believes will only strengthen with time.
He explained: “Livingston was our first time playing together and we’re just building it.
“Watching clips, talking to each other - we’ll get better every single game.”
With both players still young, Fernandez recognises the need to step forward and embrace responsibility, insisting, “I’ve always looked at myself as a leader.
“I’m not afraid to take on that role and I enjoy it.”
Much of this development has come under new manager Danny Röhl, whose clarity and demands have helped refine Fernandez’s game.
He said: “He’s very understanding and he’s helping me - he’s given me the opportunity to play.”
Röhl has asked him to heighten his concentration and intensity, advice the defender says has transformed his mindset.
“He told me to focus - whatever I do, do it with the right intensity,” he revealed.
“Him saying that was the best thing he could have said.”
Adapting to tactical changes has also been straightforward thanks to his past experience.
He said: “My previous team sometimes played a back three, sometimes a back four and I even ended up right back for some reason.
“I’m used to changing positions.”
As for Rangers’ ambitions this season, Fernandez is keeping the message simple.
“We need to take one game at a time and win every game that comes. If we focus on other stuff, it becomes a distraction.”
And with injuries opening doors across the squad, he is determined to seize his moment.
He said: “This is the chance for me to stand my place in the team and stay in the team as long as I can.”