Brian Laudrup recalls Red Star Belgrade visit with Rangers, backs current side
Brian Laudrup has recalled his experience of facing Red Star Belgrade as a Rangers player while backing the current side to handle their “huge test”.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men face the Serbian champions at Ibrox on Thursday (10 March) before visiting Belgrade next week, and the Dane believes they have the experience necessary to cope with what they will face.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, via Football Scotland, the former forward says: “It’s going to be another huge test, but I actually think Rangers have built the knowhow to handle the situation. They can deliver the club’s first continental quarter-final in 14 years by sticking to the qualities that have got them this far.
Remembering his own experience of losing to the same opponents he went on: “Honestly, it was as quiet as a church in that [dressing] room. But outside was the sound of 80,000 people going absolutely berserk. You almost felt the ground was shaking.
“The Marakana holds about 50,000 these days, but you can bet there will still be an extraordinary atmosphere for Rangers a week on Thursday.
“In an ideal world, I’d rather play the first leg there but at least Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will know exactly what they have to do when they go to Serbia.
“These players have been to big away venues such as Feyenoord, Benfica and Porto in recent years. Not quite as volatile as Belgrade, maybe, but still big tests.”
Big nights
The trip to the Marakana has a fearsome reputation in Britain partly due to the likes of Laudrup’s Gers side making the trip there in the 1990s.
Like Manchester United’s infamous “Welcome to hell” visit to Galatasaray, the early part of the decade has left a lasting impression on many.
Revamped stadiums and increased safety measures have made both different prospects in the modern day, but it will be far from a walk in the park for the Light Blues.
Ibrox is itself hardly going to be a welcoming proposition for the visitors on Thursday, and after conquering the tournament favourites in the previous round the players know they have what it takes to go further.
It will be a big test still as they will need to raise there game significantly from the recent domestic matches, which have been struggles for the most part.
They will have no excuse to be flat in the atmosphere the Gers fans will create, and perhaps the hostile nature of the return leg can similarly rouse them.
In other Rangers news, there has been a major development in the case involving Glen Kamara from last year’s competition.