Steven Thompson shares ‘monumental’ Rangers verdict for Champions League clash v PSV
Rangers need a “monumental effort” if they are to get past PSV in their Champions League clash, according to BBC pundit Steven Thompson.
The Scottish outfit travel to the Netherlands for the second leg of their European play-off clash on Wednesday (30 August).
The first leg between the two clubs finished 2-2 at Ibrox last Tuesday (22 August), with a place in the group stages awaiting the winner.
“It will be a very difficult task for Rangers,” Thompson said on the Scottish Football Podcast (29 August). “I think they come into it as underdogs to go through in the tie, however if you look at last year, it was a very similar situation, and Rangers managed to get through the tie and get into the Champions League.
“It’s going to take a monumental effort. It’s going to be so difficult because you’re expecting PSV to come right out of the traps with the home crowd and get right after Rangers. They have to show a real resilience, and they have to defend very, very well indeed.”
Very tough task
Rangers put up a great fight in the first leg at Ibrox, with Michael Beale’s men helped throughout the 90 minutes by a boisterous home crowd.
They defended for their lives against a very attacking PSV side, and managed to score two superb goals through Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo.
But now they face a very tough task given how they must play away from home, with the PSV supporters set to create a very hostile atmosphere for the travelling players.
Rangers managed to pick up a 1-0 win at this stage of the competition last time out against the same opponents, a result that Beale would take all over again this time around.
That came after a 2-2 draw at Ibrox, just like this season, but the hero of the day in Eindhoven was Antonio Colak, who has since left the Gers.
They now need a new hero to step up, but Beale and the Rangers fans will not care who steps up on the night, as long as someone does.
In other Rangers news, Steven Davis has sent a message to Ianis Hagi following the player’s loan exit from the Ibrox club.