Chris Sutton: PSV ‘slight favourites’ against Rangers with ‘big pressure’ on Michael Beale
PSV Eindhoven are favourites heading into their Champions League fourth-round qualification tie against Rangers, according to Chris Sutton.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, (21 August), the former Celtic forward claimed that amid the new teething period for the Gers’ new recruits, the Eredivisie runners-up were “slight favourites”.
Sutton also noted the pressure on Michael Beale to succeed this season while new signings Cyriel Dessers, Sam Lammers and Danilo are yet to show their best in a Rangers shirt yet.
Sutton said: “I think it’s about how their new players bed in. Up front, they’ve signed Dessers and Danilo and Lammers and it hasn’t quite clicked for them at this moment in time.
“There’s a lot of excitement about Cifuentes, a midfield player they signed from LAFC, who’s come into the team and early signs are he looks pretty decent.
“But there’s big pressure on them against PSV at the start of the season. I think they’ve won every game. I would make PSV slight favourites at this moment in time.”
Heavy is the head
Beale’s crown is getting heavier and heavier as more and more important fixtures come his way.
Rangers’ opening to the new season has not been exceptional, but seemingly enough so far to avoid a mass outcry from the fanbase.
While PSV can boast a 100% win record, the Gers’ 60%, including a very unconvincing 2-1 victory in the Viaplay Cup against second-division side Greenock Morton, reveals who the in-form side are ahead of Tuesday’s (22 August) Ibrox clash.
Sutton is perhaps being uncharacteristically fair to Rangers by calling them “slight favourites”. While there is no clear favourite, the Gers’ recent issues with the new signings have cast doubt over the summer rebuild.
The likes of Dessers and Lammers need to be scoring more than they have so far this season, and the opening-day defeat against Kilmarnock has set the tone thus far.
Rangers did not look like world-beaters in the previous round either and did just enough to get past Servette. PSV are a significant step up from the Swiss Super League runners-up and looks to be their toughest match of the season so far.
Beale will hope to keep his crown, but failure to reach the Champions League group stages will not be taken lightly by the fans or the hierarchy.
In other Rangers news, a BBC journalist has shared his “extremely dangerous” verdict ahead of the Gers’ clash against PSV.