Calvin Bassey shares thoughts on Rangers in post-match interview after Ajax Champions League victory
Calvin Bassey has revealed it’s a “weird feeling” playing against Rangers but was buzzing to be involved in Ajax’s Champions League win.
The former Rangers defender put in a typically imperious display to help the Eredivisie giants to a 4-0 win, with Bassey also notching an assist in the 33rd minute.
Bassey admitted after the game that the Dutch side executed their game plan well after putting Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side to the sword.
Talking to BT Sport (7 September) after the game, Bassey said: “Obviously I am buzzing but I can’t really explain it, it’s a weird feeling.
“When I am not playing against the boys I am always rooting for them and want them to win but when it’s against them you have to switch that focus and now I am here I have to give 100%.”
When asked on whether it was easy for Ajax, Bassey paused and said: “I wouldn’t say it was easy for us, we just executed what the manager wanted right at times and there is still work that could be done.
“I don’t think I could message any of the boys [Rangers players] tonight, I’ll give them a day and it all depends on how they are.”
Tough night
A trip to a rampant Ajax side was not what van Bronckhorst and Rangers needed after their harrowing Old Firm defeat to Celtic at the weekend.
It’s hard to asses whether Rangers were really bad or Ajax were just unplayable, because the Dutch side put on an exhibition of progressive passing football in the first half, along with a rampant counter-press, which left the Gers with very little hope.
However, the question needs to be asked, would Rangers of the 2021/22 season suffer two 4-0 defeats in the same week without really laying a glove on the opposition?
The answer is probably no, and that is not a good sign for the Gers moving forward. If Rangers aren’t careful, they could find themselves in third position in the Scottish Premiership come Saturday evening.
Potentially going back to basics could be the best option for van Bronckhorst ahead of their trip to Aberdeen at the weekend.
Getting players back into some sort of form and providing this side with a confidence boost is a must. Another defeat at the weekend would see the pressure really start to mount on the Rangers boss and the board at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, player ratings v Ajax see a high of just a 5/10