BRUNO ALVES last night told the Rangers supporters to stay calm and that Pedro Caixinha was the man to lead the Ibrox club.

And he pleaded for his fellow Portuguese to be given time to gel his new team.

Alves will make his long-awaited Rangers debut tomorrow in a friendly match against Marseille at Ibrox.

The 35-year-old vastly experienced defender knows the defeat to Progres Niderkorn has heaped extra pressure on Caixinha and some fan have doubts about the manager.

Read more: Bruno Alves is expected to be the saviour of Rangers - starting with sorting out that defence

However, Alves said: "It is too early to think about that (the criticism). I think we need to see what is going to happen in the season.

"He has not had enough time to build what he wants to build, and to put Rangers in the place the club needs to be.

“I know you don’t get time in Glasgow but that just doesn’t happen here. It is all over football.

"He is trying to get over his ideas and that takes time. Nothing comes so fast. He should have time to prepare.

“He is a respected coach in Portugal. I played against his teams and I think he is a coach with a strong character, good ideas and I think he is the right person for this job. He has a strong personality.

"I like the way he deals with the players. That’s important.

“I think and believe - it’s why I came here - that he will do a good job.

Read more: Bruno Alves is expected to be the saviour of Rangers - starting with sorting out that defence

“Both the coach and history is why I came here. The history I know. I have played here before. I know the environment, the football and the club.

"This was my personal choice but if Pedro wasn’t here then maybe I wouldn’t join.

“It was through him that I came to Rangers. However, it was good for me to have this offer. I didn’t think twice. I just wanted to come.”

Rangers could have done with a player of Alves's qualities and experience in Luxembourg.

The former Porto man was ready to come straight from Confederations Cup with Portugal to play, but was told he needed to rest after a frantic period of football.

Alves admitted: "I was surprised to hear Rangers had gone out of Europe, but at the same time anything can happen in football.

Read more: Bruno Alves is expected to be the saviour of Rangers - starting with sorting out that defence

“You can’t predict in football. At the same time, my aim was to play European football with Rangers but it’s not possible.

"I have already changed my mindset and I need to prepare for the test of these friendly games and be ready for the beginning of the league which is most important.

"We can’t do anything about Europe now. We need to move on.

“When I came to Glasgow to sign I spoke with the manager. My idea was not to have a holiday and come here early because I wasn’t involved so much with the national team.

“But I played one World Cup qualifier and then three games in the Confederations Cup. I spoke with the manager again and asked for some days off.

“The reason was that I started last season on July 27 and finished on July 2 so that’s almost a full year and for me to be at my best I needed some recovery time."