Senior stars axed as Michael Beale makes six changes – Confirmed Rangers XI v PSV Eindhoven
Michael Beale has made six changes to his Rangers starting XI to take on PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifying first-leg tie on Tuesday (22 August).
James Tavernier, Borna Barisic, Nicolas Raskin, Todd Cantwell, Abdallah Sima and Ryan Jack return to the matchday squad as Beale rings the changes from their 2-1 win over Morton in Scottish League Cup on 19 August.
Senior star John Lundtram is axed along with the likes of Danilo, Rabbi Matondo, Kieran Dowell, Leon Balogun and youngster Johnly Yfeko who was handed a first start at the weekend.
Via Twitter, they shared the confirmed line-up for Tuesday’s crucial European tie.
Huge test
To play amongst the elite sides in Europe’s most elite club competition, you simply have to overcome tough and difficult tests and Rangers certainly have one on Tuesday evening.
PSV Eindhoven are simply no mean feat for the Gers with the Dutch champions capable of playing some attractive and exciting brand of football under Peter Bosz.
This game will certainly be a mighty and huge test of Rangers’ mettle under Michael Beale but also a test of their physical, mental and most of all tactical strength, to see if they can match it with the likes of Celtic at domestic level and on the European stage should they get to that level.
We all know the financial blessings Champions League football provides even the smallest clubs in the competition and Rangers are no different.
There’s even been talk that Beale’s job at Ibrox could well be on the line if they fail to overcome their European play-off test and in order to be triumphant over both legs, this game on their home turf will certainly be their best chance of doing that.
Beale and the Rangers players need their fans to be the 12th man as much as anything because Champions League nights at Ibrox can really be a beautiful and jaw-dropping sight when the fans are on song.
Let’s hope for more of the same during this exciting first-leg showdown.
In other Rangers news, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano shares that the Light Blues want to address a priority position in the transfer market over the next few days.