The goalkeeper is relishing the crucial top of the table clash with Hearts on Sunday
12:00, 14 Feb 2026Updated 12:12, 14 Feb 2026
Jack Butland tells Rangers teammates to embrace the pressure of Hearts clash
Jack Butland says beating Hearts at Ibrox will make Rangers believe they can be champions again.
The Ibrox club endured a nightmare start to the campaign under ex-gaffer Russell Martin. When new boss Danny Rohl took over in October, Gers were sixth in the league table and 13 points behind the Jambos.
But a victory in Govan against Derek McInnes’ side this afternoon will reduce that gap to just two – with 11 games left in the run-in. And Butland insists it would give Rohl’s squad a huge psychological boost in their bid for a title they haven’t won since 2021.
When asked if a win over Hearts would give Rangers vital momentum in the flag race, the Ibrox keeper said: “That’s the belief. I think you’d argue that since the manager came in, stats would suggest we’ve been one of the best sides of the league, if not the best, in terms of our points and where we’ve come from.
“Especially considering what the opinion was of us four or five months ago. We’ve done an incredible job to get ourselves to this point. But we don’t rest on that.
“We’re not happy with that and we want to keep coming. We obviously want to win the league. Sunday goes a long way into confirming those beliefs. It’s up to us to make sure we do that.
“The focus is just on winning the game. That’s what we’re setting out to do. If we do that, we know what that means. But it doesn’t mean that it’s a given that you’re going to be successful from there.
“We then need to go and win the next game. There’s a long way to go still – but Sunday is hugely important.”
After Rangers’ midweek draw at Motherwell, Rohl’s side are under pressure to deliver against Hearts, who have already beaten them twice this season.
A defeat would leave them eight points off the pace and put McInnes’ men firmly in the driving seat.
But rather than fear what might happen, Butland has urged his Ibrox team mates to thrive on the pressure of being in a title fight.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes(Image: PA)
The Englishman said: “Embrace it because you can’t get away from it.
“We’ve spoken about it a lot. Good, bad, ugly — you’re going to hear about it at some point, so you should want to embrace it.
“Embrace what it means to be a part of this club.
“Embrace what it means to be in a great position, with a fantastic game coming at the weekend.
“When it comes down to the noise, embrace it and enjoy it.
“It’s an incredible club to play for, a special club. And I’m sure it’s going to be a special atmosphere on Sunday.
“So embrace it. These are the games you want to play in, individually and as a team.
“It’s an exciting time for us.
“We certainly feel that way but this is a really important game that we need to be ready for.”
Butland is now in his third season at Ibrox and only has a solitary League Cup trophy to show for his efforts.
But the 32-year-old former England international is adamant that his appetite for silverware hasn’t diminished.
That’s why he’d love to get his hands on this Premiership trophy in May.
Butland said: “I think it’s quite obvious from the outside what my intentions have been throughout my time here.
“Through good moments and bad, it has always been to be successful here.
“I don’t think that’s ever changed. I’d like to think people can see in my efforts and the way I go about things that I’m very much hungry to win and win. It’s as simple as that.”