Michael Beale shares Borna Barisic verdict after ‘shock’ £2m Rangers exit speculation
Michael Beale was impressed with Borna Barisic’s performance as Rangers beat Servette 2-1 at Ibrox in the Champions League qualifiers on Wednesday night.
James Tavernier’s penalty and a first goal for Cyriel Dessers in the first 15 minutes put the Light Blues in a commanding position before things started to go a bit stale and Servette pulled one back from the spot before half time.
The Swiss side ended the match with 10 men, but Beale’s men could not capitalise, and ahead of their second-leg trip to Geneva next week, the tie remains in the balance.
After the game, Beale said that he was impressed with Barisic’s display at left-back as he had two strikers to aim at with crosses into the box.
“I felt Borna Barisic had a good night and put some great crosses in,” Beale said, as quoted by the Daily Record on 9 August.
“Playing with the two No.9s gives you that opportunity that we got when Danilo went across the first post and Cyriel scores.
“At that moment we were in a great place. But after that I thought we were wasteful.
“Then comes the VAR decision for the penalty. I thought it was harsh but that’s the ruling.”
Rare good performance by Barisic
It’s not very often you hear Barisic receiving praise.
The 30-year-old has had a pretty rotten couple of seasons at Ibrox but due to a lack of good options and injury issues to reserves, he’s had his spot in the starting line-up nailed down.
A lack of competition and woeful defensive nous has led to Barisic to become somewhat of a scapegoat at times. But still, there’s no arguing that he can whip a good ball into the box.
Last season, despite stinking up Ibrox with a series of poor defensive displays, the 31-time Croatia international still managed to assist 13 goals in 46 games across all competitions.
Nottingham Forest have shown a shock interest in the former Osijek full-back this summer, too.
The Scottish Sun reported on 14 July that the Premier League team, who now have Ross Wilson on their side, had been lining up a move to sign Barisic.
It was claimed that the left-back was valued at £2million but with little in the way of developments since, it seems that move won’t be going through.
In other Rangers news, the Gers want to sign this Leicester player on loan.