Pressure is piling up on the big summer signing who has struck one goal since arriving from Everton.
Nacho Novo reckons Rangers recruitment chiefs are to blame for the pressure piling on under-fire Youssef Chermiti.
And the Ibrox Hall of Famer has urged the £8m striker to relax and avoid trying TOO hard.
Chermiti has suffered a torrid start to life in Govan after the Ibrox hierarchy decided to splash out a huge chunk of their summer kitty on the Everton striker.
The 21-year-old has netted just once in 13 games in light blue and fans are already on the Portuguese hitman’s back due to his indifferent performances.
But his track record of three goals in four years as a professional had already seen questions asked of sporting director Kevin Thelwell – who previously signed Chermiti for Everton from Sporting Lisbon for around £15m – and chief executive Patrick Stewart.
And Novo admits he can’t understand the logic behind the club’s second largest transfer fee either.
The 46-year-old, who netted 73 goals in six years for the club including the strike that won the title in 2005, has now called for patience to let Chermiti find his feet.
And he has urged the towering striker to chill out and keep working hard. Novo said: “It’s not his fault. He doesn’t put the price tag on his head.
“Rangers spent that money because they think he’s going to become something, which he might.
“He just needs to keep his head down and keep working. Not try too hard or too much – because that’s when the problems start coming when you try and try and try and everything is not going well.
“They are going to have to give him time.
“It’s not his fault. The fault has come from the top and the people who have decided to sign him for that sort of money.
“Because never in my career did I see a Rangers manager or director of football sign a player who has scored three goals in four years. And for that amount of money.
“So, for me, that is the problem. But I don’t know about the politics.”