Rangers have ‘no chance’ in key clash amid ‘big issue’ for fans – Tam McManus
There is “no chance” Rangers will go to Real Betis and win to prolong their stay in the Europa League on 14 December, according to Tam McManus.
The pundit issued the prediction on the 1 December edition of PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show as he wrote off the club’s hopes of staying in the second-tier European competition, having failed to beat a “poor” Aris Limassol side after two attempts.
The former Hibs forward said the failures against the Cypriot side, whom both Betis and Sparta Prague have beaten already, was the “big issue” for Rangers supporters who still wish to get out of Group C, but dropping into the third-tier Europa Conference League may not be too bad.
McManus said (9m 15s): “They won’t be Betis over there, no chance, not for me. I don’t think Betis will struggle at home. I think they’re a good side.
“I think Rangers’ll lose that game and I think Sparta will beat Aris, I don’t think they’re a good side. The other two teams have took maximum points off them and that is the big issue if you’re a Rangers fan, you’ve dropped that amount of points against a poor side.
“I can see Rangers dropping into the Conference League, which wouldn’t be a bad thing for me. They can go and be competitive in that as well and stay in Europe.”
Uphill struggle
The Europa League campaign has been all over the place, so the fact that even the Michael Beale vintage Rangers beat Betis the first time around leaves the door open for another upset.
That may have been at Ibrox (21 September), but the failure in midweek to overcome Aris at home shows victory in Glasgow is no given.
Philippe Clement’s new manager bounce appears to be starting to wear off, so the hopes of another galvanising run through the knock-out stages in the Europa League are now in doubt, even as they head into the final round of group fixtures second in the group and a point clear of Sparta.
If the Light Blues’ season depended on Europe then it would be one thing, but with the vital Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen coming three days after the trip to Spain it’s obvious what has to be the priority.
Clement ultimately has to improve Rangers domestically before he looks to make inroads in Europe if it’s a choice between one or the other, and the chance to lift a trophy has to be the focus.
It is impossible to write off a Jekyll and Hyde Gers side in Europe this term but if victory on the continent came at the expensive of a win at Hampden on 17 December it wouldn’t be worthwhile when a Conference League birth is better than nothing.
In other Rangers news, a club may want to force an Ibrox-linked ace out in January the player has admitted, amid heavy interest.