No one’s told Derek Cornelius what it takes to star at Rangers based on what he’s said
Rangers begin their Europa League campaign with a home match against Belgian side Genk.
Russell Martin finds himself under pressure following a dismal start to the season, which saw Rangers crash out of the Champions League playoffs.
The Bears are also winless in the Scottish Premiership, with fans making their anger towards Martin known.
Derek Cornelius is one of 13 summer signings at Ibrox, and the Canada international spoke before the game about how he has settled into life at G51.
Derek Cornelius compares Ibrox to playing at Marseille
Rangers is one of the most demanding clubs to play football at, with Cornelius comparing his spell at Marseille to his short time in Govan.
Speaking in the press conference ahead of the Genk clash, Cornelius said: “When you sign up to be a professional footballer, it’s kind of the stuff that can come with the job.
“When things are not going well, you’ll hear about it, you’re going to feel some sort of pressure from outside.
“Playing at Marseille last season gave me a little bit of experience of just what I’m getting into coming to Rangers.”
Cornelius has had an unorthodox playing career, changing clubs frequently and moving from country to country.
- Lubeck (Germany) – 2014 to 2016
- Javor (Serbia) – 2016 to 2019
- Vancouver Whitecaps (Canada) – 2019 to 2021
- Panetolikos (Greece) – 2021 to 2023
- Malmo (Sweden) – 2023 to 2024
- Marseille (France) – 2024/25
Despite his experience around Europe, Cornelius has never played in a continental competition in his career, and comparing standard French league matches to European nights at Ibrox are completely different things.
Ibrox is one of the most volatile grounds in Europe, with Rangers being fined by UEFA on numerous occasions due to the actions of Gers fans.
Whilst Marseille’s Stade Velodrome can be vociferous at times, Cornelius’ experience playing in Marseille didn’t involve a European campaign.
Ibrox has had plenty of magical nights in Europe, with Rangers’ run to the 2022 Europa League final including pulsating wins over RB Leipzig and Braga.
Cornelius will need to adapt quickly to the crowd’s atmosphere this season, with Ibrox likely to play a big part against Genk.
Genk are struggling domestically at the moment, yet Cornelius will need to be at the top of his game to stop their dangerous attack.
Derek Cornelius will be crucial for Rangers this season
Rangers’ struggles this season have been typified by how open they are on the counter-attack.
Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez have not only struggled with playing at Ibrox, but they have also negatively impacted John Souttar’s performances in the process.
Cornelius comes in to the team as a left-footed centre-back, meaning Souttar is able to move over to his preferred right-hand side.
The 27-year-old has all the qualities to succeed at Rangers, but with some supporters refusing to attend games at the moment, he’ll need to understand how important it is to perform well for the Light Blues on the continental stage.
With both defenders having played in some of the toughest stadiums in the world, they’ll need to step up their game as Ibrox readies itself for another rollercoaster campaign in Europe.
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