Tam McManus: Rangers would be a lot more competitive in Celtic Champions League group
Tam McManus believes Rangers would’ve been far more competitive in the Champions League had they landed in Celtic’s group.
The Light Blues have failed to pick up a point so far after facing Liverpool, Napoli and Ajax in their opening three fixtures. Celtic are currently bottom of their group but are only three points adrift of second place Shakhtar Donestk.
McManus feels it will be a tough task for Rangers to get anything out of their next three matches but accepts they have been dealt a tough hand in terms of their group.
Talking on the PLZ Football Show [23:54, 5 October], he said: “They’re bang up against it Rangers and I think if they can get anything in their next three matches then they will take solace from that.
“I don’t think there will be European football for Rangers after Christmas and they have landed in a tough group.
“I think if they had landed in Celtic’s group they would’ve been a lot more competitive.”
Fair assumption
This is a fair assumption for McManus, with Rangers probably being put into the hardest group possible in their return to the competition after a twelve-year absence. Celtic have certainly been dealt a much easier group and were beaten by RB Leipzig on Wednesday [5 October].
Rangers went to Leipzig and beat the German side over two legs in their Europa League semi-final victory in the 2021/22 season. The Gers do have two home games coming up against Liverpool and Ajax and after their performance against Napoli at Ibrox, there should be hope that they can give a good account of themselves.
Four points from both matches is the bare minimum for the Gers to give themselves any hope of securing a Europa League spot. The chances do seem slim at the moment and there is a good chance that the Gers won’t be playing European football come the turn of the year.
However, with money still available for each Champions League win, the Gers would be foolish to throw in the towel just yet.
In other Rangers news, this Rangers hero was “surprised” by one GvB decision against Liverpool