Mark Hateley has warned Rangers boss Michael Beale of a "tsunami" of pressure if he does not win the Scottish Cup.

The Ibrox outfit are out to defend the trophy after defeating Hearts in the final last term under the leadership of Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Now Beale is in charge and a nine-point gap to Celtic in the title race alongside a League Cup final defeat to their rivals has already piled on the pressure.

Hateley now insists Rangers must win the Scottish Cup to restore some pride in the current campaign, and he reckons the upcoming semi-final against Celtic is huge.

He explained to Grosvenor Sport: “You have to beat the best no matter what round it is and Celtic have proven to be the best on all fronts this season.

“There could be three Old Firm games in four weeks with the Parkhead league match on April 8, the semi probably on April 30 and the first post-split game could be the Ibrox league game.

“There is pressure on everyone at the club from Michael Beale to Ross Wilson and the board. The fans are demanding that they show they can beat Celtic and given that they are over the horizon in terms of the title, the Scottish Cup is massive for Rangers."

Hateley continued: “Michael [Beale] is a smart guy. He knows the demands and expectations. He came in knowing there were nine players out of contract so he will have been working immediately on replacing the ones that he won’t keep.

“However, he has to keep getting performances and victories out of players that won’t be here next season and he has been managing to do that.

“But he has to find a way to get a win against Celtic.

“If he loses the league match on April 8, the tsunami will only get closer and closer until it comes crashing down – but that’s what being at Rangers is all about. You have to handle that pressure.

“Of course, if Rangers can finish the season strongly, win the semi-final and lift the Cup it will be a huge springboard for next season.

“Lose, and the opposite is true as Celtic will be strolling to a Treble.”