Revealed: The best and worst-case scenarios for Irish League quartet in European draws
All eyes will be on the fate of the quartet – Linfield, Larne, Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts – who will be representing the Irish League on the European stage when the draws are made this week.
The Blues will be first to discover their opponents in the Champions League first qualifying round with that draw taking place on Tuesday, before the Invermen, Reds and Swifts enter Wednesday's Conference League draw – with the latter in the second qualifying round.
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Daily Record
41 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Jury split on Rangers transfer upgrades but departing Celtic star and £30m man spark a unanimous verdict
Our top team don't shirk any of the big issues as a defining summer kicks off Greg Taylor's future is up in the air with FC Copenhagen the latest club to declare an interest in the Celtic defender. What would be the best move for his career? Scott McDermott: For what he's done at Celtic, Taylor deserves a move to a top club either in England or abroad. If he goes down south, it should be to a Premier League side - or one with aspirations to reach the top flight. And if he leaves the UK, it's important it's to a club in the Champions or Europa League. Craig Swan: At this stage of his career, Taylor will want to play regularly and doing so in a quiet environment will be a nice change from the chaos of the Glasgow bowl. Michael Gannon: Staying at Celtic. The full back will get plenty of action, even with Kieran Tierney back, and he'll be competing for silverware and in the Champions League. Moving house is a pain in the backside anyway. Graeme Young: He's one of the most underrated players in recent Scottish history and any team who wants to use his ability as an inverted full-back should be at the top of his list. Don't rule out his next adventure being the start of a continental odyssey. New Rangers boss Russell Martin has been linked with loads of players as he starts an Ibrox rebuild with Swansea's Harry Darling on the wanted list. What area of the squad needs the most strengthening? Scott McD: Where do you start? That Rangers squad needs a total overhaul so Martin has a job on his hands. He needs two centre-backs, a full-back, a defensive midfielder, a winger and a striker - and that's just for starters! He'll also have to offload several under-performing players during this window. Craig: Defence is key. Rangers conceded bad goals at various stages throughout the term and must be tighter. Michael: Centre back is certainly an issue and they'll need a couple. But Rangers also need to add pace in the wide areas and another striker to hang their hat on with Cyriel Dessers on the way out. There's a lot of work to be done and it needs to be done sharpish. Graeme: An elite central defender must be the target but this team won't be in Martin's vision until a modern sweeper-keeper is sought, if the new boss gets that early it could have a transformative effect. Scotland skipper Andy Robertson could be on his way to La Liga with Atletico Madrid in for the Liverpool left-back. Would a move to Spain be good for him or should he look to stay at Anfield? Scott McD: At 31, Robertson has achieved everything he wanted to at Liverpool and maybe it's time for a fresh challenge. Working with Diego Simeone at Atleti might just give him a new lease of life - which could hopefully benefit Scotland. Craig: Robertson has nothing left to achieve at Liverpool and a move to Madrid would be superb. Michael: It would be a shame if Robertson didn't get a proper farewell at Liverpool after being one of the best signings in their history. At the same time, Atletico is about as attractive a proposition as it gets, as going to a huge club in a superb league must be tempting at this stage of his career. Graeme: It's the perfect transfer, Diego Simeone will bring out the Scot's inner grit and the Ateli boss is famed for allowing his full-backs to wreak havoc in attack. The Madrid derby against his old pal Trent will be tasty too. Dundee boss Steven Pressley's comments about not being a winning gaffer didn't go down well with Dark Blues fans. But what should realistic expectations at Dens Park look like this season? Scott McD: Staying in the league is the priority. Losing key players like Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan is a blow but Dundee have the potential to challenge for the top six - then establish themselves in the top half of the table. If Pressley achieves that, he'll soon win over the punters. Craig Swan: Top-six. It's not easy, but it's a proper ambition to have with St Mirren and Kilmarnock getting in there recently. Michael: You've got to admire Pressley's straight talking and blunt honesty but he has hit work cut out winning over the punters. Dundee's aims should be the same as about half the Premiership – stay out of bother and try to sneak into the top six. Europe and runs in the cups would be a major success. Graeme: The new Dundee boss is one of the game's good guys but it is an appointment which feels fraught with danger. An early wobble and Pressley's honest remarks will be used against him. A clear vision and fewer relegation fears should be viewed as a success this season.
Daily Record
41 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rangers boss took the hump over Cyriel Dessers question but the main man didn't dig me out
If Dessers goes, he'll be a big loss for Rangers and their new head coach Russell Martin Ten days he's been in the job as Rangers boss. And Russell Martin already has a major problem on his hands. Because if Cyriel Dessers completes a move to AEK Athens this week - the new Ibrox gaffer will immediately lose a guaranteed 25 goals from his team. That's not an ideal start for any manager. And along with everything else in his in-tray - replacing that strike rate will shoot to the top of Martin's priority list. If Dessers goes, he'll be a big loss for Rangers and their new head coach. And not just because he's banged in 51 goals in two years at Ibrox. The 30-year-old looks like he'l get Gers their money back if he heads for Greece, which on paper is decent business. But Martin - who is just in the door - won't know what he's letting go in terms of Dessers' character and personality. Hands up here, I've been critical of the big Nigerian international since he arrived in Glasgow. And despite the goals, my opinion hasn't changed. For Rangers to be winning titles, cups and competing in the Champions League - they need a better quality, first-pick number nine. Dessers still misses far too many clear-cut chances. If you're going to Parkhead for a crucial Old Firm derby in the Premiership or away from home in Europe, you might only get one golden opportunity in front of goal to win the game. For me, Dessers isn't clinical enough to take it. But you simply can't ignore his record at Ibrox in the two years he's been here. He's averaging 25 per campaign, which isn't to be sniffed at. Certainly not by an incoming manager. And impressive strikes against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Fenerbahce in the Europa League - and Celtic in a derby dead rubber at Ibrox recently - are proof that he's got ability. So if the club could keep him in Glasgow, while signing a top marksman for him to compete with for a place in the team - that would be the ideal scenario. Dessers is terrific at coming off the bench, as he proved a Feyenoord before he got to Rangers. So in a perfect world, Martin would surely want to keep him around? But finances look like dictating that won't be the case. And that's a blow for the gaffer. Because he'll now have to find a new striker where there isn't the certainty of goals that Dessers brings. But it's about more than that with him - and I've got a bit of personal experience of his character. A year ago, Rangers were in the Polish town of Lublin for their Champions League qualifier first-leg against Dynamo Kyiv. A few days earlier, they'd drawn 0-0 with Hearts at Tynecastle on the opening day of the Premiership season - and Dessers had been profligate at best. Rangers' flight to Poland was late - there were issues with food on the plane which held them up in Glasgow. When they eventually arrived for the pre-match press conference that night, gaffer Philippe Clement was already in a bad mood. With deadlines approaching, the travelling press pack just wanted a quick hit. So my question to Leon Balogun and Clement was - I thought, anyway - an easy tee up for both men. 'Cyriel missed a couple of chances at the weekend. But what makes you believe he's the guy who can score the goals to take Rangers into the Champions League group stage?' Easy enough, surely? A chance to big up their front-man before facing Kyiv. Instead, Clement bit back and took the hump. He thought I was having a pop at Dessers when I wasn't. He said it was a silly question and encouraged Balogun to give it short thrift as well. Fair enough, they'd had a long day. But of course, fans picked up on it and lined up to have a dig at yours truly online. After the game, Clement and I had a laugh about it and there was no issue. Because, with Rangers a goal down in injury time, who had popped up to grab the equaliser? It just had to be Dessers. While I took a ribbing in the press box, the keyboard warriors were rejoicing. Who could blame them? In their eyes, I had inadvertently criticised their much-maligned striker and he'd rammed it back down my throat by responding in the best way possible - by scoring a vital goal. And this is when my admiration and respect for Dessers grew. At full-time, of course it was him who was put up for interview by the club. There's no doubt Dessers would have known about the mini-furore at the presser 24 hours previously. So, after sticking one in the onion bag late on, he could easily have dug me out and had his say. But that's not Dessers' style. Instead, he was a gentleman. He answered every question, offering steely replies but with a real touch of class. His attitude that night showed he's got what it takes to be a Rangers player. While plenty of others in that Ibrox dressing-room lack the right mentality and personality to cope with the pressure and expectations at the club, Dessers is strong enough to take it on. Remember, this was a guy who was JEERED by those same supporters who were aghast at any flak he got from the media for missing chances when he got here. He could have crumbled at that point but he kept going to rattle in those 51 goals. That ability to brush off criticism and come back for more is a key attribute for any Old Firm player. Dessers has it in abundance. And aside from the goals Martin will be without if he's sold to AEK - it will be THAT the new gaffer might miss most when he goes.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Dembele explains big changes he's made to put him on road to Ballon d'Or glory
Ousmane Dembele was in danger of failing to realise his potential but has just produced a career-best season as PSG claim Champions League glory - which now has him in the hunt for the Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembele believes a more professional approach to life has changed his career as the PSG star is tipped to win the Ballon d'Or after proving a leading light for a PSG side that finally won the Champions League. The Frenchman has flourished since leaving Barcelona and a positional switch made him a key cog in Luis Enrique 's all-conquering team. Dembele's numbers skyrocketed, especially post-Christmas, as the 28-year-old went on to score 33 times. His exploits on the European stage have put him in pole position to claim football's most sought after individual prize. Dembele has long been tipped for big things but had struggled to realise his potential at Barcelona and, before that, Borussia Dortmund. Now the forward has confessed that a mindset shift really helped him with his approach to fitness and recovery allowing him to reach new heights - which is in stark contrast to his attitude previously. He told France Football, via Mundo Deportivo: "Now I'm a little more professional. I was already professional, but now I'm even more so. Now, even on my days off, I like to go to the training centre, recover, work with the physios. Before, I would go home, play NBA 2K, watch a bit of TV. I was also younger, it's normal. "But, in the end, you pay a high price, and I saw that especially at Barcelona . I arrived there young, I played from 20 to 26, and I had a lot of physical problems. I learned a lot, and it helped me. Now I know my body much better, and that's why I get injured less. I know when I'm good, but also when I need to slow down, pace myself in training." Dembele has been installed among those most likely to claim the Ballon d'Or. Often the player who lands the award has claimed one of the major trophies that year, which is why the PSG star is the hunt alongside the likes of Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal. "To begin with, I hope to be among the 30 nominees", he told France Football about his own chances of winning the Ballon d'Or. "I have had difficult years with injuries, poor performances as well. This season I think I have been consistent, so we will see what happens. "It would already be exceptional to have my name on the list. And being one of the favourites is already a great victory, although I hope to win it someday." The last Frenchman to win the Ballon d'Or was Karim Benzema, who did so back in 2022. Lionel Messi is the only player from PSG to have claimed the gong.
