Michael Beale has congratulated Rangers on their Viaplay Cup triumph.

Speaking to the media as Sunderland's new head coach for the first time, the 43-year-old passed on his regards to Philippe Clement after the Belgian guided the Ibrox side to the first available silverware of the season in Scotland.

James Tavernier's strike was enough to see off Aberdeen at the national stadium. 

And Beale has revealed he's delighted for everyone at the club, especially the players.

"It's the first opportunity that really interested me," he said upon joining the Black Cats. "It was the first one where, when you sit in a room, you hear and understand how the club works and it excites you. 

"It's a fantastic opportunity as I've said and it comes off the back of two periods at Rangers which are some of the best moments I've had in my career to date. It's a club that is very close to my heart.

"I would just like to give my congratulations to Philippe Clement and the Rangers team because that was a real moment watching those guys and I'm delighted for them winning the cup at the weekend.

"I had a lot of people around me within the club that I knew very well. When the team is maybe underperforming or has one or two difficult results - the week before we'd got through to a semi-final and beat Real Betis - I thought we were still good. But we had a difficult day and then obviously I've come out of the club.

"It's not nice - it's the first time in my career that I've been out of work when it hasn't been my choice, so that wasn't a nice feeling. But I've learned a lot from that, the experience I had there. 

"I look back at my time there at a club that I spent over four and a half years and 300 games, I was part of the team that won the league invincible and that group of players, existing and new, I was hugely happy for all of them. Delighted for the whole football club and I wish them well moving forward."

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You can watch Beale's full press conference above. 

The Londoner also addressed why the prospect of joining Sunderland was too tempting to turn down.

He said: "What a fantastic opportunity for me to join a club like this with this type of squad. The vision and the alignment within the club, it's hugely exciting. 

"I've got a lot of work to do, for sure, but the further we went into talks I became more excited as we went on as we've got a lot of common ground. I'm delighted to be here."