Champions League: Rangers unphased by deficit against Union Saint-Gilloise

Champions League: Rangers unphased by deficit against Union Saint-Gilloise
Credit: Belga

Beaten 0-2 by Union Saint-Gilloise in the first leg of the third preliminary round of the Champions League, Rangers need to win by at least three goals on Tuesday in the return match, which kicks off at 8:45 p.m. (Belgian time) in Glasgow, to qualify for the play-offs.

“The first game wasn’t the result we wanted; we have a home game tomorrow where we can change it all,” Rangers coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst said on Monday at a press conference. “We have to make sure our performance is better than last week.”

“My objective and my desire is to still be in the Champions League next week,” he stressed.

The Scots can count on their 50,000 supporters in the Ibrox stadium to push them towards the play-offs. “The atmosphere is always fantastic when we play at home and I’m sure it will be the same tomorrow,” the Rangers coach said. “We are always confident […] regardless of the opponent.”

Related News

He noted that Rangers had been in similar situations before, having had to make up deficits “three or four times in the knockout stage, so it’s a familiar situation for us.”

However, the former Dutch international is aware that his team will have to show another face on Tuesday to bring down the Union.

“The level we reached last week wasn’t the level we normally reach or have to reach to be competitive in this Champions League, so yes, our performances and our standards need to be on a high level tomorrow […] to have a chance to go on to the next stage,” the Rangers coach said.

The idea on Tuesday is to “have a good start,” and find the right balance. “Of course we have to score goals but we also have to keep organised because [Union] is a team which is also very good in transition moments to attack,” Van Bronckhorst concluded.

Compared to the first leg, the Dutch coach can count on the return of Ryan Kent, former Ostend player Fashion Sakala and Colombian international Alfredo Morelos, scorer against Kilmarnock on Saturday in the League.


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.