Rangers have set up an epic playoff with PSV, but let’s not pretend Servette were anything other than horrible.
This team was absolutely pathetic over two legs, one admittedly good goal the highlight of their 180 minutes, and the standard when Rangers welcome the Dutch giants next week to Ibrox is going to hike an alarming level.
Sturm Graz, a decent team, and perennial bridesmaids to Austria’s all-conquering Salzburg colossus, were dispatched by Eindhoven with something to spare, a 7-2 drubbing a fairly flattering score to the defeated side.
PSV will be an utterly giant leap up from Servette, and we know from experience how good this team are. Rangers’ victory over them at this stage last season was a mammoth achievement, a staggering victory, but of course it was also the only time in his entire career that Malik Tillman showed any of his potential.
And Rangers now face him, assuming he is included in the squad for the next round – he wasn’t registered in time for the last round…
Are they better now?
Actually no – we’d say they’ve weakened a bit. They lost a world class superstar in the outstanding Xavi Simons, who returned to PSG, and could only replace him with the modest Tillman, who isn’t in the same league as the Dutchman.
Their window has been uneventful otherwise – a couple of additions, but mostly the same squad really.
They also fell short last season of winning the title, it going to Feyenoord, of course, and they were no great shakes in the Europa League either even if they did fall in the UEL in the last 16 to serial UEL colossi and last season’s eventual winners Sevilla.
So what are we getting at?
PSV are a very, very good side, but not any better than they were last season. The question really is where are Rangers now? Hard to answer that one.
What is clear is PSV will want revenge, big time, and Michael Beale will have the biggest test of his fledgling managerial career to overcome them.
Joey Veerman and Tillman are two of the players who will be champing at the bit to get one over on us.
What a juicy tie.
Going into this game against PSV we will be the underdog no doubt and to stand any chance of progressing to the group stage of UCL we need to try and take full advantage of the first leg at Ibrox to give ourselves the best possible chance for the away leg in Eindhoven. 💙💙
I agree that PSV are not necessarily stronger, but feel you are being harsh on Tillman. We could do with his goals and assists, none of the new forwards look as threatening as Tillman or Sakala.
Scotswhahae
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