In an era where the press yearns for snappy quotes and headline-fillers, Giovanni van Bronckhorst has taken an understated approach to his press conferences at Rangers.

There’s a rigidity to the information Gio hands out when speaking publicly. His hand is close to his chest, it’s been plain sailing on the pitch and that’s been reflected when a microphone is placed under the Dutchman’s chin.

That’s not to suggest we’ll never hear a barbed comment or a controversial take from the manager, but Gio exudes calmness from every pore.

From a former player who led teams at the very highest level at club and international level, it’s been interesting to watch the new manager implement his steely exterior in the face of questioning. He’s been thrown in at the deep end of a title fight following a manager’s sudden departure and is taking it all in his stride. Calm, composed, but ultimately understated.

This is at odds with his predecessor. Rarely was a Steven Gerrard press conference not box office; his heart lived on his sleeve and blunt honesty was regularly the order of the day. It would make interviews highly entertaining and watchable, but his unashamed style would ultimately have its downfalls with those who may find themselves in the firing line.

The two managers are similar in footballing stature, yet Gio’s approach is far removed from Gerrard’s. There’s unlikely to be outbursts and tantrums in abundance, but what lies beneath the surface of calmness is a ruthlessness that shows a very different side of the manager’s character.

When van Bronckhorst first met the assembled media after his appointment, he suggested the squad may meet a “tough boss” in mopping up the nasty League Cup semi-final defeat to Hibs and addressing any perceived lack of “hunger”.

The positives exceedingly outweigh the negatives in the first two months of his reign, but he is dropping hints about how he would handle the role of “tough boss”.

One of Gio’s first tasks as manager was to strip Defoe of his coaching role and return him to being a player only. From listening to Jermain Defoe on Sky Sports News, he felt the joint role added some complexity to his routine so it made sense to downgrade

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However, at the age of 39 some may suggest Gio would ask Defoe to focus on his coaching, but the new boss knew straight away it wouldn’t happen. He had his coaching style, his team, and was headstrong in his changing of Defoe’s role: no trial period was necessary.

This move ultimately set off the recent chain of events. When Cedric Itten’s return to the club was announced, it was no surprise that it was followed by Defoe’s departure. Gio had made Defoe’s coaching responsibilities redundant and his playing time was so limited it made sense to make this call.

Any Rangers fan who watched Defoe’s heartfelt Sky Sports News interview would struggle not to want to reach out to the extremely likeable striker. His close relations with the staff, his desire to finish his career at Ibrox in front of the fans after last season’s shutout; surely there’s still a place for him at Ibrox? Not for Gio, the ruthless streak has raised its head and Defoe now searches for a new home to finish his career with no sendoff and no sentimental final farewell against Stirling Albion.

It’s not the only time van Bronckhorst has delivered a deadpan response to a situation while at Ibrox. When asked about the departure of Patterson by de Telegraaf, the manager’s ice-cool response was almost chilling: “Nathan Patterson was a backup player. This was a win-win situation and basically, we don’t get any weaker. He was sold for a record amount that fits the long-term vision of the club.”

Clear cut, a backup player whose departure will have no impact on the team. No room for sentimentality and no suggestion that Rangers are losing a generational Scottish talent. That’s not to suggest the manager won’t have said or acted differently outside of the public sphere, but this steely response suggests it will take an awful lot to faze him.

In among the positives and the undefeated streak, Giovanni van Bronckhorst is showing signs that he is every inch the “tough boss” he promised. History shows that can pay dividends in this city. It can take strong characters to succeed in the goldfish bowl of Glasgow and Rangers.

Whether it’s a steely calmness on the touchline with 10 minutes left at Easter Road knowing a draw heaps pressure on his side, or brushing off the sale of Nathan Patterson, the manager looks ready-made to handle the tougher times that will inevitably come his way in the future.

The style on and off the pitch is quickly changing, the level of intrigue about what Gio can achieve will leave every Rangers fan excited for the rest of the season and beyond.