Brian Laudrup raves about Rangers summer signing Antonio Colak
Brain Laudrup expects Antonio Colak to start as Rangers take on PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday night (16 August) at Ibrox.
The Gers defeated Union Saint-Gillioise to set up a date against PSV, and they are just two games away from reaching the group stages of the Champions League.
Laudrup has been left impressed with the performance of Colak, suggesting he “comes alive” in the box, and puts his chances away.
“Antonio Colak opened up a little slowly at Rangers but he’s started to show what he is capable of with three goals in his last three games. He comes alive in the box. He puts chances away,” wrote Laudrup for The Scottish Mail on 16 August (page 72).
“I think Van Bronckhorst will start with Colak at home and, depending on how the result goes, he could maybe start with Morelos in the away leg. The good thing about Rangers right now is they have players pushing for every position.”
Dilemma
Morelos is fit for this game, while Ryan Kent is also available for selection.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst now boasts a very strong squad, and this is indeed a selection dilemma for him.
Should he start with Morelos or Colak?
We all know what Morelos is capable of and he can be ruthless if he gets going. Rangers could be in a commanding after the first leg if Morelos performs at a top level.
At the same time, Colak is gradually starting to show his class and has scored in his last three games.
He found the net against Kilmarnock and scored in the second leg at home against Union Saint-Gilloise. The 28-year-old followed up with another goal against St Johnstone on Saturday (13 August).
Colak is bubbling with confidence at the moment, and Van Bronckhorst could start with him again in this big game.
Laudrup is probably right. In the away game, when PSV are expected to dominate, Morelos can be a potent threat upfront.
In other Rangers news, Celtic and the Gers are at loggerheads over a record-breaking SPFL midfielder and a bid for him has already been tabled.