NIKO KRANJCAR has vowed to repay the Ibrox crowd for their backing and end their suffering by striving for Premiership success this season.
The Croatian has become a firm favourite with the Light Blue legions following his move from New York Cosmos this summer and is poised to play a key role for Mark Warburton’s side in the coming months.
Kranjcar got his first goal for the Gers in the 3-0 win over Stranraer on Monday night as the champions rounded off their Group F schedule with a fourth successive win.
Read more: Joey Barton: It is a privilege to play in this 'exceptional' Rangers side
Now the 31-year-old has set his sights on the top flight crown as Rangers prepare for a crack at the Premiership once again this term.
Kranjcar said: “It is a great way to play football, it is in my opinion the way football is supposed to be played.
“I am really happy I joined this football club and I hope we have an unforgettable season. I think we have the quality to do it.
“We need to improve and prove ourselves every day in every training session and every game and I am sure we will do that.
“It is a great bunch of lads, great management staff, backroom staff and a fantastic football club with a fantastic fan base and a foundation to bring Rangers back where it belongs.
“I must be thankful. I have felt the appreciation from the first game at Motherwell, although I only played for half an hour.
“Obviously I am thankful for the way that they have treated me since I came [here]. But it is also a massive obligation to absolutely give everything for this football club.
“I think every single player in this dressing room feels the same.
“The people, the fans of this football club have suffered for a long time unfortunately and they deserve nothing less from us than 100 per cent commitment to achieve the goal that we have set out for ourselves and that is winning the championship.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we will do absolutely everything we can to achieve it.”
After catching the eye on his debut against Motherwell at Fir Park, Kranjcar has steadily built up his fitness ahead of the new campaign.
He got his first 90 minutes under his belt as he strolled through the Betfred Cup tie at Ibrox on Monday night.
And the 31-year-old was pleased to mark the occasion with his first goal in Light Blue as the countdown continues to the big kick-off.
“It was nice, it was a nice feeling [to score],” he told RangersTV.
“It was great to win again and great to get 90 minutes under my belt. It can always be better but we have done the job and we should be happy with ourselves.
“There are some things we need to improve but a lot of good things that we need to build on. We are looking forward to the season.
“I am getting there. I am happy with how everything is progressing.
“Come the start of the season I am sure I will be in the best shape possible, and throughout the season as well.
“As a team, we play some great stuff, we create a lot of chances and we dominate games.
“We have done throughout this cup competition and used it as a pre-season to gel in the new players, to get fitness into the lads.
“I think we have to be happy with everything we have done. We have kept four clean sheets, which is really important, even for the way that we play.
“I think we can be really satisfied. We are not allowed to get carried away with ourselves. The season starts on August 6 and we will focus on that.”
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