Rangers can have last laugh after pundit makes ‘scared’ admission live on air
Former Hearts goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal has claimed Rangers looked “scared” during their Europa League clash with Sparta Prague.
Rangers struggled to get going for most of Thursday’s (26 October) game but did improve and claimed a creditable 0-0 draw in the Czech capital.
Speaking in his role as a pundit for the game, as quoted by the Daily Record [27 October], Zlamal felt Sparta should have claimed the victory.
“[Sparta] are clearly better; Rangers are scared,” Zlamal said. “Rangers were definitely beatable. In the group, it will be a fight until the end.”
While Rangers did stand off in the first half in particular, it would be harsh to suggest they were “scared” of their opponents.
After all, it was only last year that the Gers reached the final of this very competition, so a trip to epet Arena is not exactly daunting.
Even when not at their best, and with Philippe Clement forced to play a forward at wing-back in a change of formation, Rangers still took a point.
The result ensures Group C remains wide open as Sparta and Rangers are level on four points apiece in a likely battle for second place.
That sets up an intriguing contest on 9 November when the sides reconvene at Ibrox, where a packed crowd will try to roar the home side on.
It means that the Gers also have a chance to have the last laugh if they win and see out the job to qualify for the knockouts at Sparta’s expense.
Far from being “scared”, this group of players now have added motivation – if it was needed – to crush their Czech opponents in two weeks’ time.
In other Rangers news, Ally McCoist has questioned an “absolutely baffling” decision made by the Gers.