Michael Beale is confident he can handle the heat as Rangers manager after watching former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard at close quarters.

The Englishman held his first press conference on Thursday evening following his appointment as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's successor.

Beale was part of the coaching staff that lifted the Premiership title last May but has just 21 games as a boss under his belt after a short-lived spell at Queens Park Rangers.

Life at Ibrox will be a very different experience for the 42-year-old but he has no doubt that he will be able to cope with the unique atmosphere of the Old Firm goldfish bowl.

Beale said: "I haven’t picked a team yet, I haven’t lost a game and you haven’t written anything nasty about me. I get it. It is a privilege.

"Where I came from, I didn’t have the big career. I am a career coach. It has taken me 21 years to be sat here in front of you guys at a huge football club.

"I am very fortunate with the upbringing I have had in terms of ten years at Chelsea, six at Liverpool and across to Sao Paulo. Those clubs have a lot of pressure as well.

"But the three-and-a-half years here are the biggest experience for me. I was really close to Steven and watched everything and took a lot of pressure on myself as well.

"I felt it when things didn’t go well and felt the elation when it did go well and we won the league. I am sure there is going to be a lot of pressure at different moments and with different games and the expectation is always going to be there so that no matter how well you do, you have to go again.

"What I think will give me a bit of comfort is the clarity and alignment between me and the board and how they want things to go.

"That will give me the strength to make difficult decisions and in difficult moments. My backroom team have all got roles making sure that I am the best version of me as well."

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