Jim Goodwin is urging his Dundee United squad to approach the opening match against Rangers with complete confidence, insisting that the team must play without fear as they aim to set a strong tone for the season, a message he delivered during a live interview on Sky Sports. The Tangerines will welcome the Ibrox side to Tannadice Park for the first fixture of the Scottish Premiership on Friday evening. It also marks Derek McInnes’s debut competitive appearance as Rangers’ manager, a storyline that adds extra intrigue to the encounter. Goodwin, however, does not anticipate any dramatic shift in Rangers’ style simply because of the managerial change.
He has faced McInnes before, when the latter was in charge of both Aberdeen and Hearts, and he believes the core principles of the Rangers side will remain familiar. "I have opposed Derek McInnes’s teams on numerous occasions over the years," Goodwin told Sky Sports News.
"He has achieved considerable success wherever he has gone, and his teams have always played with a clear identity. I don’t expect Rangers to be radically different from the way his Hearts side performed, or even the way his Aberdeen outfit was set up a few seasons ago." Goodwin went on to highlight the quality within the Rangers squad, acknowledging that they possess a number of highly talented players. Nevertheless, he stressed that the only way Dundee United can compete is by adopting a fearless mindset from the first whistle.
"They have a deep pool of talent, but our game plan must be built on fearlessness," he said. "We need to dictate the tempo early, impose our ideas and show the visitors that we are not intimidated by their reputation or their history." He added that playing at home in front of the Tangerines’ own supporters provides a perfect platform to make a statement.
"Playing our first home game at Tannadice with our fans behind us is a fantastic opportunity to lay down a marker for the season," Goodwin explained. "If we can start strong here, it will give us momentum and belief as we move forward." Dundee United have already been active in the transfer market, completing nine signings during the summer window. Goodwin sees these additions as a means to improve on the previous campaign, in which the club finished seventh in the league. He outlined his ambitions for the new season, emphasizing a clear target.
"The primary goal for any club of our size at the start of a league campaign is to secure a top‑six position as early as possible," Goodwin said. "From there, we can begin to think about challenging for the European qualification spots." Reflecting on his first season in charge, Goodwin recalled the high point of finishing fourth and enjoying a rewarding European run, which brought both travel experiences and a surge of support from the fanbase.
"In my inaugural season we achieved a fourth‑place finish and had a memorable run in Europe," he recalled. "The travel, the atmosphere and the backing from our supporters were all fantastic. That is the benchmark we want to hit again this year." He was candid about the disappointment of ending the last season in seventh place, describing it as a shortfall relative to the squad’s potential. "Finishing seventh was below our expectations," Goodwin admitted.
"I felt we had the quality to push into the top six, but we fell just short. However, we have taken valuable lessons from that campaign and are determined to apply them moving forward." Looking ahead, Goodwin expressed confidence that the team can progress one step further and be in contention when the league splits after the regular season. "Our aim is to be among the clubs fighting for European places when the split arrives," he concluded.
"With the new signings, the experience we gained last year, and a fearless approach on the pitch, I believe we can achieve that." Fans can watch the Scottish Premiership live on Sky Sports, and the match will also be available to stream via the NOW platform, ensuring that supporters both at Tannadice and at home can follow the action as Dundee United strive to make a bold statement against Rangers.