Allan McGregor bigs up ‘massive Rangers financial implications’ as £20m+ info shared
Rangers will go toe to toe with Club Brugge on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie.
The Gers have already seen off both Panathinaikos and Viktoria Plzen, and have now reached the crunch stage of their bid to qualify for the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition.
Rangers have been excellent in their Champions League campaign so far, and they now find themselves just one round away from a place among European football’s elite.
Russell Martin’s side have not found life easy in the domestic competitions so far, but they are now just two games away from a significant milestone.
Club Brugge tie could net Rangers £20m if they win
Rangers’ progression in the Champions League could be crucial for their coffers across the rest of the campaign, and everybody connected to the club will be desperate to see them reach the proper competition.
The prize money in the top tier of European competition is significantly larger than that of the Europa League and the Conference League, meaning the Gers’ latest clash could have huge financial implications.
- Second Qualifying Round – Rangers beat Panathinaikos 3-1 on aggregate
- Third Qualifying Round – Rangers beat Viktoria Plzen 4-2 on aggregate
- Play-off Round – Rangers vs Club Brugge
Rangers have already welcomed 10 new faces into their squad so far this summer, but victory over Brugge could take their spending capabilities to the next level for what remains of the transfer window.
Gabby Logan noted on Amazon Prime’s coverage of the game that over £20million is at stake for Rangers on this tie alone, and Allan McGregor was keen to emphasise the importance of the night.
“It’s a massive night,” the former Rangers goalkeeper said.
“Obviously, the financial implications are massive.
“For the players, they’ll want to put themselves in the elite competition in Europe and they want to play against the best players.
“They’ve got eight games now in the league phase, so they’ll be wanting to put their skills on show for that.”
Rangers should have full focus on Champions League for now
It is no secret that Martin’s priority at Rangers is the Premiership, but for now, it would make little sense for them to fail to give their Champions League campaign the attention and respect that it deserves.
A £20m boost to their finances, followed by the subsequent benefits to come from playing in the league phase, would have the potential to completely transform their capabilities for the next few transfer windows.
Ultimately, if they are to close the gap to Celtic within the next few years, it will likely need to be a slow and steady process, which could make financial windfalls a crucial element.
The Ibrox outfit will not be able to close the gap without spending substantially, and the Champions League is a very obviously avenue that could help them to do that.
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