Dragan Mladenovic accuses Rangers of being ‘arrogant’ ahead of Red Star clash
Rangers have become “arrogant” after beating Borussia Dortmund, which could come back to bite them against Red Star Belgrade, says Dragan Mladenovic.
The Serb spent a season at Ibrox after signing from the upcoming Europa League opponents, where he is now back as the academy director, and believes his home side can overcome his one-time employers.
Gers produced two stirring performances in the previous round to knock out the German tournament-favourites, but their league form around the tie and since has been underwhelming.
Mladenovic has said ahead of the last-16 tie, via the Scottish Sun: ““I watched the Rangers v Dortmund game and they outscored the German ‘millionaires’. Rangers deservedly won convincingly, and the Scots are now a little arrogant.
“They are thinking in the sense that, ‘When we can beat Borussia, the second best club in Germany, we will also beat Red Star’. They are full of self-confidence, but that arrogance can hit them on the head.
With the first-leg at Ibrox, the former Light Blue is under no illusions as to the size of the task, saying: “Red Star players must know that nowhere where they have played so far can be compared to the hellish atmosphere that will await them at Ibrox.
“When you play in Glasgow, it is important to be psychologically ready, because the atmosphere is fantastic. The fans are closer to the players and they are passionate. They love their club.
“When the game is in the evening, they also come under the influence of alcohol!”
Up to the task
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men were magnificent in dispatching Dortmund in the previous round.
But Mladenovic’s suggestion that it has gone to their heads may have something to it, considering their apparent inability to rise to lesser domestic occasions.
They will need to be back to their best on Thursday (10 March) if they are to set themselves up for a daunting trip to Serbia with something to fight for.
Fans will no doubt wish to see another display on a par with the two that saw off their Bundesliga opponents, but given how it negatively affected their SPFL form something needs to change.
Gers dropped points with frustrating draws in consecutive weeks following European action.
The manager opted to change his team very little across the four matches and will surely need to rotate more to avoid a repeat.
One thing he can rely on will be the atmosphere the fans provide in Glasgow this week, which even Mladenovic, who will be familiar with the rough welcome opponents received at Red Star before their ground was revamped, acknowledges is fearsome.
In other Rangers news, a former referee saw a “deliberate” rule break missed in the last league outing.