Champions League riches within touch for Rangers - so why the concern?

The National

17 hours ago

Seeing their heroes join the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, the cream of the continental game, will be uplifting and exciting for supporters of the Glasgow giants in equal measure. They have only mixed it in that illustrious company once in the past 15 years.
Their directors, too, will raise a large glass of their favourite tipple if they manage to overcome Club Brugge of Belgium over two legs as the achievement will improve their financial predicament considerably. It would be worth tens of millions to them regardless of how they fare. For a new regime which has only been in situ for a matter of months, it would be a significant fillip.
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Would Rangers supporters, though, trade more European success for elusive domestic glory? Would they forego the chance to see their side in action against top English, French, German, Italian and Spanish opposition in the coming months if they knew they would be toasting a Scottish title triumph come May? Would they give it up to get the better of Celtic in the Premiership?
The likelihood is, after four years of abject failure on the home front, many of them, as much as they have enjoyed seeing James Tavernier and his team mates defy expectations in the Europa League in recent seasons, would prefer top flight dominance this term.
The Govan outfit, who took to the field in the Doosan Arena protecting a comfortable three goal lead following a resounding victory last week, were not quite at their best last night. They rode their luck a little against mediocre rivals before allowing, after a calamitous slip by left-back Jefte, Rafiu Duosinmi to put the hosts ahead four minutes before half-time.
Rangers still threatened going forward on occasion and drew level on the hour mark when Lyall Cameron, who has impressed onlookers greatly every time he has donned a light blue jersey, opened his account for the club he joined from Dundee in the summer following a slick attacking move.
Svetozar Markovic restored the Viktoria lead with seven minutes of regulation time remaining. But it ultimately proved to be too little too late.
(Image: Getty Images) There remains considerable room for improvement. Defensively, they were unconvincing. Their goalkeeper Jack Butland once again came to their rescue on more than one occasion. But nobody could begrudge the visitors the 4-2 aggregate result. Job done, onwards and upwards.
Still, the accomplishment begged a question? Why can't they make such light work of lesser opponents in their own country? Their repeated inability to see off domestic adversaries who they should defeat comfortably continues to frustrate and baffle their fans.
Rangers have, despite not winning the Premiership since back in 2021, done pretty well against Celtic of late. They probably had the better of their encounters during the 2024/25 campaign. But against the likes of Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Ross County and St Mirren, they have repeatedly been found wanting.
This season they have beaten Panathinaikos of Greece and Viktoria Plzen of Czechia in the Champions League and been held to draws by Motherwell away at Fir Park and Dundee – who had lost to Airdrie and Alloa in the Premier Sports Cup group stages – at home at Ibrox in the Premiership. They are already four points behind the defending champions and it is still only August.
So what is the reason for their repeated failings? It is pretty simple really. They have to learn how to break down teams which sit back, defend in numbers and seek to score on the counter. They fare far better against sides which like to get on the front foot and come at them. But that is a major issue in their ain midden.
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Martin, the former MK Dons, Swansea City and Southampton manager, was considered particularly adept at dealing with a low block during his time down south. The one-time centre-half hasn't shown much evidence of that since returning to his adopted homeland in June. He will have to start exhibiting that he possesses a tactical nous soon or he will suffer the same fate as his predecessors Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Philippe Clement.
(Image: Getty Images) No fewer than 10 new players have arrived in another close season of frantic transfer activity. The summer recruits will take time to settle into their new surroundings. The manager must also be given games to implement his ideas. But he will find that patience is a quality which is in short supply if more draws and defeats are suffered. His players will have to raise their games considerably to see off a formidable Brugge side.
Much is being made of the opening Old Firm game of the season at Ibrox on August 31. If Rangers lose it then they will be playing catch-up and then some. But their forthcoming fixtures against Alloa at home and St Mirren away might well be even more important for them than that derby encounter.