Davie Provan believes Alfredo Morelos has disrespected Rangers enough
Rangers are out of the Champions League after losing home and away to Malmo in the third round qualifying games.
The Light Blues missed out on the chance to reach the play-offs and get a spot in the group stages of the elite European competition, and Davie Provan is unhappy with Alfredo Morelos.
The Colombian striker missed the first-leg against the Swedes as he was in isolation after getting back from his extended break.
The Sky Sports pundit wrote in his The Scottish Sun column: “Beating Malmo and Ludogorets could have seen Rangers collect the thick end of £80m within a year. That would have given them a decent chance of keeping their better players. Not now. Unless Park has discovered oil under Ibrox, he’ll have to sell.
“Alfredo Morelos would be a good place to start. Ahead of the Malmo first leg, Gerrard admitted he didn’t know when to expect the striker back in Glasgow. Biggest game of the season and Morelos can’t get himself on a plane in time?
“Sorry, but that reflects as poorly on Gerrard as it does Morelos. Too often the Gers gaffer has put his own credibility on the line for Morelos and been let down. Morelos has disrespected everyone who’s gone out on a limb for him.”
Spot on
We do not always agree with the former Celtic star, but we believe Morelos should have indeed done better.
Colombian ended their Copa America campaign on the 10th of July, but the Rangers ace played just nine minutes at the tournament and could have jetted back into Scotland in time for the first leg of the Malmo clash.
Cutting his break short by a week would not have hurt, and his refusal to make that sacrifice cost us a great deal.
There are no guarantees that Rangers would have left Sweden with a win had he been available for selection, but we all know what Morelos is capable of on his day, and his presence on the Malmo pitch could have made all the difference.
Putting the club above himself does not cost anything.
Brazilian forward Richarlison played for Everton yesterday, a week after playing in the final of the Olympics and having featured at the Copa America too.
That is the type of commitment we want from our players, and Morelos has not been showing it.
In other Rangers news, this is what Ibrox bosses have told Gerrard after £30m blow.