PSV’s Luuk De Jong has admitted the loss to Rangers last season was a ‘disaster’ and the Dutch forward is determined to do better this time, in a further subplot to a fixture that is already teeming with the things.
While team mate Joey Veerman was emotionally exasperated to the point of insulting Rangers, captain De Jong has been a bit more measured and suggested what a grave moment it was for PSV to lose to the Famous, and how they’d love to go one better this time.
He said:
“There are always lessons to be learned but one year is a long time. Of course it’s the same opponent but there are a lot of different players and two different coaches. So it will be a different game.”
This is all fair enough so far. PSV’s leader goes on:
“Of course last season was a disaster for us. Of course we want to reach the group stage this time. But I don’t want to look back too much now. I just want to concentrate on trying to do the best in this game.”
No arrogance unlike Joey Veerman, just a concession that not making it to the group was a disaster for PSV, which of course it was.
PSV are no more ‘entitled’ than Rangers to make it to the group phase – whoever makes it, ‘deserves’ it and earned it. Rangers were titanic in that playoff last season, even if there was nothing left by the group phase with injuries and whatnot.
But the quality of Peter Bosz’ side would suggest they feel they have the tools to make a much better fist of the group stage than Rangers would, and they might even have a point, looking at both squads.
But they’ll have to prove it by overcoming The Famous Glasgow Rangers.
And that won’t be easy in front of a raucous Ibrox – European nights of major gravity are a different beast at this stadium.