Rangers sent Red Star Belgrade warning by Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness has urged Rangers to forget about the hostile atmosphere they will receive at the Rajiko Mitic Stadium.
The Gers face Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League round of 16 but will benefit from the next week’s first leg being at Ibrox.
Souness claimed the “big players” can deal with the pressure with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team travelling to one of the most hostile grounds in world football for the second leg.
When speaking on the Europa League clash against Red Star Belgrade, he told Daily Record: “I never worried about fans. It didn’t impact me. I was more worried about the guys I was playing against.
“You’ve got to block yourself off. They can shout and sing and throw what they want, you just need to get on with the job.
“I was lucky to experience a lot. I wasn’t alone. Big players can deal with it.
“Part of the makeup of being a big player is you deal with whatever difficulties come along, whether that’s being a goal down, having a man sent off or coping with a hostile atmosphere.
“Kenny (Dalglish) pointed it out in his book but it made me better when I got abuse.”
Hostile
Rangers are enjoying some European tour, aren’t they? They have faced the French big-timers, Lyon, enjoyed what will be a historic thriller against Borussia Dortmund and now face one of the most decorated clubs in world football in Red Star.
It is safe to say these players know how to deal with a hostile atmosphere as they ran rampant in Germany despite the notorious impact of the Signal Iduna Park.
Playing an Old Firm at Celtic is no picnic in the park either so you would imagine the Gers players aren’t overly phased about travelling to Serbia.
With that being said, they should prepare for the hostile atmosphere they will face because going into the game with an arrogant mindset could be a recipe for disaster.
Rangers will be delighted the first leg is at Ibrox. It gives them a chance to gain an advantage in their very own famously hostile stadium before the second leg.
First, though, the Bears have league duties to attend to.
In other Rangers news, Giovanni van Bronckhorst slams his substitute critics.