Gabby Agbonlahor questions Rangers’ substitutions in Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt
Gabby Agbonlahor has questioned Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s substitutions in Rangers’ Europa League final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville.
The Bears slipped to an agonising 5-4 penalty shootout defeat after having chances in extra time to win the game.
However, talkSPORT pundit Agbonlahor couldn’t understand why changes were not made earlier to win the game before the shootout.
Talking on talkSPORT breakfast on Thursday morning [06:10, 19 May, Agbonlahor said: “Maybe he should’ve brought on Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsey earlier, not in the 117th minute for a penalty shootout which didn’t work anyway.
“I would’ve put them on way before that because it was there for the taking because when Rangers went for it in extra time they had a few opportunities and could’ve scored.”
Amazing achievement regardless
Rangers’ heartbreak in Seville will undoubtedly hurt but as the dust settles the Gers will realise the magnitude of their run to the Europa League final.
They can count themselves extremely unlucky not to have returned home with the trophy but nevertheless, their achievement should be used as a building block to progress the club further.
Rangers looked the more likely to win the tie in extra time with Ryan Kent’s effort brilliantly stopped by Frankfurt hero Kevin Trapp.
The Gers did create enough chances, so to say van Bronckhorst’s reluctance to bring Aaron Ramsey on sooner is a reason for their defeat doesn’t quite add up.
They created more than enough chances and six shots on target is usually enough to win a game.
Frankfurt’s five exquisite penalties just highlighted further how it wasn’t meant to be Rangers’ night in Seville.
There could potentially have been more attacking substitutions made in regular time, but it was crucial that Rangers’ didn’t lose the game.
The Gers will be extremely disappointed with Frankfurt’s goal, with their main crossing threat leading to the German side’s equaliser.
The opportunity should’ve been dealt with earlier and the goal will frustrate van Bronckhorst.
In other Rangers news, One 25-year-old could now be deemed as surplus to requirements at Ibrox this season