Rangers ‘want to do something special’ this season – Max Aarons

The German coach has turned the domestic fortunes of the Light Blues around since taking over from Russell Martin last October when the Govan club were in a state of distress.

The Light Blues were in sixth place in the William Hill Premiership, 13 points behind leaders Hearts and nine behind Old Firm rivals Celtic.

However, following seven straight wins in all competitions – including a 1-0 home victory over Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets at Ibrox on Thursday night, the first in the Europa League in seven attempts – Rangers prepare to host Dundee on Sunday behind second-placed Celtic on goal difference alone and six points behind leaders Hearts, who host the Hoops on the same day.

Defender Aarons, 26, who arrived on loan from Premier League club Bournemouth last summer, said: “The manager has brought a calmness, some amazing ideas.

“And the togetherness in the group, I can feel it even just around the training ground.

“There’s a big belief now and as we look at the league, again, there’s a belief that we can do something special and we’re all in for that.

“We’ve all come together and I think we’ve turned this around and put ourselves in a really positive position so now with 16 league games to go, it’s on us to really capitalise on that and follow that up.

“We were way behind and again, I have to give credit to the group as well because we’ve turned things around, but as I say, there’s no point getting to this position and then letting up and resting.

“Sunday is hugely important, then the next one, then the next one.

“We have full belief and as I say, I came here, a lot of the boys came here and the group here before, we want to do something special.”

Aarons pointed to the 3-1 win over Celtic at Parkhead to start off 2026 as the standard required to come through and finish top of the heap.

He said: “Games like the Celtic game, we have to take that belief and we have to put that sort of performance on the pitch every single week.

“We can’t rest on what’s happened before. We can’t rest on a game that’s happened a few days before.

“There’s another team that’s trying to take points off us. I think we have to go all out and Sunday is a huge game.

“And I think when you’re in this form, you can feel it building week to week. We’re in a really good spot and now it’s about keeping that going.”

Aarons insists little attention will be paid to events at Tynecastle, where something has to give in the battle of the top two.

He said: “All we can do is go and win on Sunday.

“Whatever happens there, happens there, but we have a game in front of our fans and that’s the most important thing.”