Rangers sent new warning before crucial Champions League clash v Servette
Servette head coach Rene Weiler has warned Rangers that all the pressure will be on them when the two sides face off for the second leg of their Champions League qualifying third-round tie.
Rangers opened up a two-goal lead early on in last week’s first leg through James Tavernier’s penalty and a bundled finish from Cyriel Dessers, only for Chris Bedia to pull one back via a spot-kick.
The Swiss side will be backed by a sold out crowd at Stade de Geneve on Tuesday [15 August], but Weiler insists it will be a stress-free occasion for his players.
“We have qualified for the group phase of the Europa League. That was the big challenge,” he said at his pre-match news conference on Monday [14 August], as per Rangers Review.
“We did the job there, so we don’t have the pressure. Now it’s just a bonus. The pressure is on Rangers.
“There is no pressure whatsoever for us. We are part of Europe and we feel at home. There is no pressure and everything will be okay.”
Crisis
Michael Beale labelled the first leg a “mega game” for Rangers ahead of kick-off and the same will be true of this second leg in Geneva.
Servette have not reached the Champions League group stage since its inauguration, previously failing to make it past the qualifying rounds in 1994 and 1999.
Weiler may therefore have a point when he states the Maroons are under no pressure to advance any further, but try telling that to the 30,000 or so home fans packed into the stadium.
Ultimately, though, defeat for Rangers would be treated as a crisis of sorts as they look to book a tie with either PSV or Sturm Graz in the final qualifying round.
After losing their opening Scottish Premiership fixture, before easing past Livingston on Saturday [12 August], this is a game Beale cannot afford to lose come the end of the 90 minutes – or indeed extra-time and penalties if required.
The Europa League will provide a safety net of sorts for the Scottish side, but that does not come close to the Champions League in terms of finances.
It is now down to Beale to ensure Rangers’ players are fully aware of what is at stake as they prepare for the crucial clash in Switzerland.
In other Rangers news, one first-team regular has already been ruled out of the contest for personal reasons.