Brian Laudrup: ‘Phenomenal’ Rangers football makes Europe take notice
The “phenomenal brand of football” that Rangers are playing in the Europa League has made people across Europe sit up and take notice says Brian Laudrup.
The Light Blues have consistently raised their game in the knockout stages of the continental competition, outplaying Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in the previous round, and sitting 3-0 up ahead of tomorrow night’s (Thursday 17 March) trip to Serbia to face Red Star Belgrade.
Former Gers goalscorer Laudrup has hailed the standard of play Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men are producing and says it is raising the club’s profile across Europe.
In his column for the Scottish Daily Mail, as quoted by Football Scotland, the Dane writes: “When I speak to football fans and journalists in Denmark, they ask me what is happening at Ibrox because, in the past, Rangers and Celtic were viewed as being good at home but they struggled away from home.
“Now Rangers are getting results away from home while playing attractive football. The biggest compliment you could pay them is that they are not grinding out results.
“They are achieving them by playing a phenomenal brand of football and people across Europe are taking notice of that. It’s a great advert for Scottish football.”
Disruptive force
The standard that Gers are operating at in the Europa League of late has been so impressive it is no surprise that it is gaining attention across the continent.
The Old Firm have name recognition but the men from Ibrox are backing that up with fireworks on the pitch.
The run so far represents the waking of a sleeping giant in many ways, as the team has shown it can more than compete with some of Europe’s best.
It has been a blessing and a curse in that is appears to have contributed to some flat performances domestically, but the impact of the midweek games can’t be overlooked.
It is why it is so important for this side to take the next step and secure qualification to the Champions League for next year.
That prize is on offer for winning either the Scottish Premiership or the Europa League, and van Bronckhorst has his side in prime position to mount an assault on either.
The only fear is that by going for both, as he surely has to, could leave the club coming up with neither.
In other Rangers news, Graeme Souness makes “selfish” admission as he eyes an “enormous” club feat.