ROY MAKAAY is confident Rangers have the mix of talent and mentality to ensure they can defend their Premiership crown this term.

The champions will aim to pick up where they left off in the top flight when they make the trip to face Aberdeen next Tuesday night.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side are six points clear of Celtic in the title race thanks to an impressive run of form since the Dutchman replaced Steven Gerrard as manager.

Makaay has played his part in that sequence as Van Bronckhorst's right-hand man and the former Bundesliga and La Liga champion is well aware of what it will take to get over the line in the coming months.

Makaay said: "I played for some big clubs. I played for one of the biggest clubs in the world in Bayern Munich and I have come to another big club here at Rangers.

"The most successful club in the world. They are used to winning titles.

"Of course the last few years it wasn’t there but they won the championship last year. The only thing is to work hard every day.

"To win titles you have to work hard. Talent is not enough. You need more than talent – hard work, dedication, helping each other.

"Of course if they have questions about some stuff they can always ask me. It can be young players or it can be experienced players as well.

"We have a lot of successful players in the team as well so they know what it is to win a title. To be a good team with good players is not enough to win a title. They showed last year they are the team to do that."

Makaay made the move to Ibrox alongside Van Bronckhorst in November as they were reunited once again in Glasgow and tasked with succeeding Gerrard following his switch to Aston Villa.

The 46-year-old previously held a position within the Feyenoord academy and had no hesitation about signing up for a new challenge and life in Scotland.

Makaay said: "It was easy. The boss asked me if I wanted to join his backroom staff, as you call it here, if he was appointed as head coach. It was an easy question with an easy answer.

"I enjoyed working with him at Feyenoord so when he gave me the opportunity to join in I don’t have to think much.

"Our relationship starts further back. We played together for the Dutch national team at Under-21, played together in the Dutch national team and we both had our careers abroad.

"At Feyenoord, we came back together. We have known each other a long time and the families get along very well.

"When he asked me at Feyenoord to make the step from the youth academy to the first team, it was a big honour.

"When he asked me to join his backroom staff again, I didn’t have to think about it. I knew if he would ask me I would be very glad to join him."

The first weeks of Van Bronckhorst's reign couldn't have gone much better on or off the park and Lyon are the only side to deny Rangers victory under their Dutch boss.

The new management team have received a warm welcome at Ibrox and Makaay has been taken aback by the impact of the Light Blues support.

Makaay told RangersTV: "Our first game was spectacular against Sparta Prague. The whole stadium and atmosphere was brilliant.

"My wife was here a week with me and she could see two home games and she was really impressed as well by the fans.

"Hopefully I can bring my kids as soon as possible so they can live the atmosphere in the stadium because it is something special."