Borna Barisic outlines Rangers Champion League goal and hails Ibrox as a better atmosphere than Anfield
Rangers suffered a third consecutive Champions League defeat against Liverpool on Tuesday, but play two of their remaining three matches at Ibrox.
Borna Barisic believes Rangers should “at least” be targeting third in Group A following their defeat to Liverpool. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are yet to welcome the Reds and Ajax to Ibrox this season.
Realistically, Rangers will have to beat either Ajax or Liverpool at home and then pick up a point elsewhere, with a difficult trip to Naples wedged in between.
But Barisic has the belief his side can still secure third in Group A and continue in the Europa League this season, and believes the Ibrox crowd will be crucial to their chances.
“We are growing, we are learning and I think we will be much better at Ibrox. It is our home, our crowd,” Barisic told the Glasgow Times.
“They are a 12th player for us. When we play at home it will be a little bit easier for us. But we also need to realise that all these teams play in front of away crowds, in front of 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 people. There are used to it.
“But it (Ibrox) is still the best (atmosphere) by far for me. With all due respect to everyone, I thought Anfield had a good atmosphere. But for me personally, not just because I am playing at Rangers, it wasn’t better than Ibrox.”
Home advantage
Rangers usually perform best in an all-or-nothing type situation, and that’s exactly what the Gers are now facing in the Champions League.
Liverpool’s trip to Ibrox next Wednesday will be make-or-break for the club’s hopes of European football this season – victory gives hope of securing third, while a defeat basically confirms a fourth-placed finish in the group.
But the home advantage for next week’s clash will be huge. Rangers did well to limit Liverpool to two at Anfield, and as pointed out by Barisic – it was probably their best European performance this season.
But the brakes will have to come off at Ibrox. Similar to the Napoli game, Van Bronckhorst will have to instruct his players to go toe-to-toe with Liverpool and be brave.
The side are yet to score a goal in the Champions League, and that simply has to change next Wednesday. Liverpool have shown they’re vulnerable this season, and Gers have to take confidence from that.
A positive and aggressive team choice by Van Bronckhorst will help send a message to his squad, as well as rile the fans up ahead of what is bound to be a blockbuster night of football.
In other Rangers news, Jamie O’Hara and Jason Cundy mock Rangers fan live on talkSPORT after he predicts Jurgen Klopp being sacked