DANIEL CANDEIAS admits Rangers’ training camp in Spain has been the toughest pre-season campaign of his career.

Boss Steven Gerrard has put his players through their paces on the continent this week as he steps up his preparations for the big kick-off.

The Light Blues will play their first competitive match of the season when they face Macedonian outfit Shkupi in the Europa League next month.

And winger Candeias is confident Rangers will be fighting fit for the new season after a rigorous work-out from Gerrard and his new backroom team.

“It is a hard pre-season but it is good for the players because afterwards you take the results away for the long season,” he told RangersTV.

“Now is the time to work hard but the players are really enjoying the first few days with the new coaches.

“Yes, this is the hardest pre-season I have ever had, it is the first I have had where you just run and don’t touch the ball. It is good for the physical resistance for the season coming up. I am so tired!

“I think the group now is better and I think we are a strong group. I believe the new ideas are very good and now is the time we work.

“I always thought he (Steven Gerrard) was good, he was a great player and the new ideas he has had are very good.

“Now is the time we take the information off him and then we will see improvements.

“I don’t remember much of seeing him play because I don’t watch much football! When I go home, I go just to be with the family and focus on that.

“I am happy he is the manager now, he is better for the players because he has played at the highest level before and now he is the coach. He knows perfectly what the players want because of that and he is very good for the group.”