Cocky ex-Club Brugge star's bullish statement over Rangers tie
Brugge have sold a number of key players this summer but, despite being in a period of transition, Marc Degryse thinks they should have no issues against Rangers.
In fact, he doesn't feel the club have any "serious" work to take care of until summer.
Read more:
Writing in his weekly column for HLN, he said: "Club Brugge lost Jutglà, De Cuyper, Talbi, and Jashari this summer. Ordóñez and Tzolis could potentially be added to that list. If that happens, that would be half a team. All of them were top players last season.
"So far, Brugge has done well. Things have been going well this season, and Nicky Hayen is fortunate that some of his substitutions have paid off. Rangers shouldn't be a stumbling block either. But when the serious work starts in September, there's no escaping this squad.
"The club absolutely needs to bring in reinforcements. Over €100 million has been invested. I think the board shouldn't just focus on young, forward-thinking players; they also need some experienced players who can be deployed immediately."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rangers boss Martin dismisses reports star asset Raskin has handed in a transfer request
RANGERS boss Russell Martin has dismissed any suggestion that star midfielder Nico Raskin has asked to leave the club. Reports emerged online over the weekend claiming that the Belgian international had formally handed in a transfer request amid ongoing interest from abroad. Martin spoke last week about how Raskin's head may have been turned earlier in the summer, whilst also praising his attitude and the way he has since knuckled down. But the Ibrox boss was emphatic in shooting down reports that Raskin had apparently informed the club of his intention to leave. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's Champions League play-off showdown with Club Brugge in Glasgow, Martin said: 'I've loved working with Nico, I think he'll get better and better. 'The only reason he wasn't in the squad on Saturday (against Alloa) was for a rest. But he's trained really well. I think he's going to be a big player for us. 'I said that from the beginning. I've also said it's been a difficult summer for him and all that, but really, the last few weeks, I've loved the energy that Nico's brought. 'He's been really good. We analysed his clips, me and him together, from the game against Plzen last Tuesday. 'He is going to be really important for us. He will play tomorrow night and he'll be a good player for us. 'So, no, I've not heard anything (about him asking to leave). Not at all. He's been brilliant. I'm pretty sure Kevin (Thelwell, sporting director) and Patrick (Stewart, chief executive) would have told me if we'd heard that sooner.' Knowing that a £40million windfall is at stake if Rangers can secure Champions League football, Martin and his players will go up against a Brugge side who reached the last 16 in last season's competition. Whilst Rangers will be rated as underdogs by most observers, Martin doesn't want his team to approach the match with that sort of mentality. He also believes qualifying for the Champions League would be transformational for the club, both in terms of finances and also accelerating the development of his new-look team. Urging his players to seize the opportunity, he continued: 'I don't think we'd ever go into any game considering ourselves underdogs, for sure. 'If we can qualify, I think the belief it would give the players would be massive. I think what it would do for the football club financially would be huge. 'So I think if we were able to do it, which I really believe we can, if we can do it and qualify for it, I think it would be brilliant. 'Someone asked me if we've got the squad depth and all that to sustain it, if we need to worry about it, I think let's try and get in there first and qualify. 'Then we're building a squad that has to compete in Europe, whether it's Europa League or the Champions League. So I think it would be incredibly exciting. It would help us a lot as a football club moving forward. 'Not just financially, but what it would do for the players and their belief. And to then pit yourself against some of the best teams in the world would be a brilliant opportunity for us. 'So we're here to try and attack it as much as we can. I want the players to really seize the opportunity. 'Rather than feeling the weight of it (pressure and expectation), look at the other side. Look at how brilliant it would be if we can achieve this together.' The main issues in terms of team selection will come up front and at left-back. Cyriel Dessers is rated as touch and go as he recovers from a knee injury, meaning that Danilo will probably get the nod. Rangers are hopeful of pushing through the paperwork in order for new signing Jayden Meghoma to start at left-back, with Max Aarons also an option. 'We think he (Meghoma) is going to be registered in time for tomorrow's match,' added Martin. 'We hope so anyway, so we'll have to wait and see. But yeah, that's the hope, that he can be in the squad. We will see, today and yesterday he trained, so we'll see if he's ready to go. 'Big Cyriel is probably the only concern. He'll be touch and go. He's responded really well to treatment. It was nowhere near as bad as we first feared. So if it's not tomorrow, we expect him to be back for the weekend and next week.'
Daily Record
3 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Two forgotten Rangers stars briefed Thelo Aasgaard on Ibrox life as Champions League 'dream' becomes reality
It's been a slow start for Aasgaard due to injury but he says he's fit and ready now to make his dreams come true They've done it so often already this season that Rangers fans might have turned the art of clutching at straws into an Olympic sport. It's been that kind of start to Russell Martin's tenure at Ibrox. Despite tentative progress in the Champions League, they've toiled in the Scottish Premiership. Under new gaffer Martin - with his own style of play - the punters are just desperate to cling on to something. Anything that offers a shred of optimism and positivity about where this team is actually going. And Thelo Aasgaard might just be that beacon of hope for them. The 23-year-old Scouser arrived from Luton Town in the summer as one of Martin's major signings. Not only did he shine in the English Championship after leaving Anfield as a kid - he's now a Norwegian international alongside the likes of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. So there was expectation on his shoulders. But before he could get going, a pre-season thigh injury stopped him in his tracks - and left supporters praying that it wasn't serious. Aasgaard finally returned at the weekend. For fans, he's held up as a symbol of what Martin's side have been missing in the opening weeks of the campaign. Creativity, invention. Ball carrying, dribbling, taking people on. A goal threat from midfield. And the good news for them is that - ahead of their crucial Champions League play-off tie against Brugge - Aasgaard says he's ready to deliver. As he reflected on a delayed start to life at Ibrox, he said: 'It was a bit frustrating being injured but that just made me more hungry to get back. 'I was delighted to finally get on the pitch. 'Last season I was injury free. Coming in here, I had a couple of weeks with the squad which I really enjoyed but then felt a little niggle in a pre-season game which has kept me out for four weeks. 'Mentally, it was a bit tough at first. But I've had injuries before in my career so I know how to deal with it. 'I just want to get going now. All the excitement (from the fans), I had that inside me as well. 'It was nice to get a great reception from them when I came on at the weekend. 'Things like that will only encourage me to do the best I can for this club. 'I've tried to use it as fuel to get back quickly. 'I feel I can add something different to this team. I had a little cameo at the weekend. I wanted to score but I'd like to think I showed a little bit of what I can do. 'I want to be a physical presence in midfield as well as taking the ball. I want to get in the box as well. That's what the manager wants from me. 'When I signed, he'd done his research. That's my style of play and hopefully I can show that in a Rangers shirt. I feel fit and ready now.' Growing up in Merseyside as a Liverpool fan means Aasgaard is familiar with big European nights. He's barely old enough to remember ex-Rangers gaffer Steven Gerrard producing memorable moments on his way to lifting the Champions League. But he's felt how special the competition is. That's why it's been his ambition to play in it since he started kicking a ball. Now, he's determined to make the most of his opportunity at Rangers, as Martin's men attempt to see off the Belgians and reach the group phase. Aasgaard said: 'It's every player's dream to play in the Champions League from when they're small. 'And everyone here is really up for it. We've worked hard to get here and we know what we need to do. 'Champions League nights mean everything to me personally. 'To play in it is every kid's dream. So if I can contribute in a Rangers shirt on big European nights, it would be a dream come true. 'I wasn't at the Liverpool v Barcelona game a few years ago but that was obviously an unbelievable night for the club. 'Now, I'm at Rangers to write my own story here and I'm really focused on the game against Brugge. 'If I could feature in this play-off game, it would be right up there for me. 'I've been looking forward to nights like these at Ibrox. 'I had heard a fair bit about Ibrox before I came here. I had a few ex-team-mates who I'd spoken to about it. 'I played with Jordan Jones at Wigan then Kal Naismith - who was here as a young lad - at Luton. 'They had nothing but good words to say. So for it to become a reality now is amazing for me.' Rather than mope when he was on the sidelines, Aasgaard watched Martin's new-look side closely. Because of that, he's adamant that, with his attributes, he can make Rangers better. If he does, it might finally give these fans some joy - and end their straw clutching. Aasgaard said: 'We've had a few learning curves so far but some really strong games, especially in Europe where we've shown we can compete. 'We'll be hoping to do that again on Tuesday. 'I think the style here can help me thrive as a player. It was a big reason for me coming to play here under the manager. I want to use that to my advantage. 'A big part of my game is dribbling and taking people on. 'You have to be brave to take the ball in these European games and that's what I'm here to do. I can't wait to show the fans what I can do.'
The Herald Scotland
31 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Russell Martin tells mum he's okay amid Rangers criticism
Saturday's 4-2 victory over League One minnows Alloa hardly set pulses racing either. However, Martin has guided the club to within just 180 minutes of the league phase of the Champions League. Rangers host Club Brugge in the first leg of their UCL play-off tomorrow night, with the return leg in Belgium next midweek. So, while it's been far from plain sailing for the 39-year-old, he knows that brighter times could lie ahead in the near future. "A lot of people have messaged me who have read message boards and stuff, who are concerned about me," Martin told the media. "They just don't have to be. "I keep telling my mum 'Don't worry about it, it's all good, I'm enjoying it'. Read more: "I appreciate the honour of managing this club every day and the gratitude I feel for that. So, let's have that in the building. "I said to the staff the other day that so many of them support the club, but I think they've lost a bit of joy or being here and working here. "So, let's get back here and understand how brilliant it could be, and focus on what we can control and that is playing with so much energy tomorrow and really feed off it."
