Ianis Hagi opens up on his emotions after scoring first Rangers goal in 16 months
Ianis Hagi could not hide his delight or his emotions after he scored his first goal for Rangers in 16 months after his injury nightmare, as reported by the official club website.
The Romanian international scored his team’s second of the afternoon as the Gers recorded a convincing 3-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday.
Hagi faces a tough challenge to get back to the level required to be a regular performer under Michael Beale at Ibrox, but he will gain a lot of confidence after finding the net once again.
In the immediate celebrations, it was clear to see the effect that the moment had on the 24-year-old.
“Look, 30 seconds with the guys down there, I just grabbed someone and tried to hold my emotions together but I just couldn’t,” he said.
“In those 30 seconds, the last 16 months just flashed in front of my eyes. It took me so long to get back to scoring goals and I am really happy to do this.”
Turning point
Hagi also spoke of the challenges that lie ahead for him, and the main one comes over the pre-season period.
He will have two more games to feature in, over the next week, as his comeback from a serious knee injury continues.
It is understandable that his sharpness and impact aren’t quite at the optimum level just now but he is fast approaching a turning point in his Ibrox career.
The attacker’s future in Glasgow is far from certain and he needs to show over the coming months that is capable of contributing but a transfer cannot be ruled out.
Even prior to his injury, consistency was an issue for Hagi who is clearly talented but his lack of pace is an issue. That concern is heightened given the significant setback he has faced.
It is just one goal and another game, but the strike against Hibs signifies an important milestone for the former Fiorentina and Genk player.
In other Rangers news, a brand new signing could be unveiled this week after the update provided by Michael Beale.