Rangers manager Derek McInnes has made clear he is eager to see his side's recent upturn in form continue once domestic football resumes, admitting he is not fond of the pause brought about by the international break.
The Ibrox club head into the hiatus having strung together six consecutive wins, a run capped by back-to-back triumphs over fierce rivals Celtic in the League Cup and the Premiership. That sequence of results has gone some way to easing the pressure on McInnes, whose start at Rangers was far from smooth and included a disappointing departure from European competition.
Despite the improved results earning him the Premiership manager of the month award for September, McInnes was careful not to get carried away, stressing that his team cannot afford to relax given how quickly fortunes can change in Scottish football. He insisted there is no room for complacency, with the recent victories over Celtic and others needing to be built upon rather than viewed as a final destination.
Among the more personal anecdotes McInnes shared was a recent visit from Sir Alex Ferguson, who dropped by the club's training facility for a meeting with the manager and his staff. The legendary former Manchester United boss has long been a supportive figure for Scottish coaches, and his relationship with McInnes dates back to the latter's time in charge of Hearts, where he led an unexpected push for the title last season.
"He spent a bit of time with the staff and me, chewing the fat as he does," McInnes said of the visit. "He has always been really supportive, and I'm sure he is with a lot of managers. I've had a couple of conversations with him since I've been at the club, but to see him in person was good. Particularly after his health scare."
Ferguson had been a frequent presence at Tynecastle during McInnes' tenure there, closely following the progress of a Hearts side that punched above its weight. According to McInnes, the Manchester United great understood why he ultimately chose to take the Rangers job despite enjoying what was happening at Hearts.
"He enjoyed what we were doing at Hearts and he was a regular visitor," McInnes recalled. "But he understood the opportunity for me to come here was there and we spoke long and hard about that."
During their conversation, Ferguson reportedly drew on his own experiences in management, including the difficult early days of his reign at Old Trafford, to offer some perspective to McInnes. The message, as McInnes relayed it, was that patience and long-term thinking often matter more than how a season begins.
"He spoke about his own difficult starts at Man United, and he said it's how you finish a campaign not how you start the campaign. Sometimes it can take time," McInnes explained.
Ferguson also offered a specific assessment of Rangers' recent displays, singling out their performance in the League Cup victory at Celtic Park as particularly impressive. McInnes noted that the former United manager felt his side had been "really strong" in that match, a further sign of encouragement for a Rangers squad looking to sustain its momentum once competitive action resumes after the international break.
With six straight wins now behind them, McInnes and his players will be keen to pick up where they left off, aware that the goodwill generated by recent results could evaporate quickly if performances dip during the run-in to come.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.