Paul Hartley refusing to set targets for Dundee this season
Dundee manager Paul Hartley will not put pressure on his team by declaring the top six as their target for the Ladbrokes Premiership season.
But the Dens Park boss is excited for the new campaign as his side look to keep entertaining and consolidating their top-flight status.
Dundee last season failed to emulate the top-six finish they achieved in their first campaign back in the top league and the arrival of Rangers will not make the task any easier.
But Dundee warmed up for their Premiership opener at Ross County with a 7-0 win over Forfar last week and Hartley has further added to his strikeforce by bringing in Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who hit 30 goals for Dunfermline last season.
When asked for his aim, Hartley said: Finish as high as we can. I know that might sound stupid but this league's tough this year. Everybody has strengthened.
We would like to get in the top six but it's not quite as easy as that. Hopefully we can keep making progress as a group. I feel we've got a talented squad, we are young, have a lot of energy and a lot of quality. I think we entertain, we play football the right way and hopefully we get some good results.
We will have our disappointments throughout the season like any other team, but I have total belief in the group I have.''
Dundee lost 4-0 at Ibrox in the William Hill Scottish Cup earlier this year and Hartley knows Rangers' promotion will add to the competition for the top six.
It's harder but it's good also in terms of the strongest league we've had in a long time,'' the former Celtic midfielder said.
It will not be easy but I think on our day we can match anyone. Hopefully we can continue progressing and find the consistency we lacked last season in terms of winning games. We had too many draws. If we can turn the draws into victories, then hopefully we can have a good season.''