Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LOWEST OF THE LOW
Rangers legends queue up to blast ‘atrocious’ Euro exit
ALEX MCLEISH believes Rangers’ “absolute shocker” in Luxembourg was worse than their infamous defeat to Berwick in 1967. But the former Ibrox gaffer also feels current boss Pedro Caixinha and his team can recover from Tuesday’s nightmare Europa League exit to Progres Niederkorn. Big Eck insisted there were no excuses but accepted that a lack of preparation time did not help. He said: “Let’s not get away from it. It’s an awful result and probably the worst in Rangers’ history. “They used to go on about a Berwick Rangers result but this is a shocker. An absolute shocker. “If you want to feel a bit of sympathy, you have to consider they are only three or four games into their pre-season and they’re really without a rhythm. “There are a lot of new faces and how long it takes them to settle is going to be very difficult to assess. “In the Premier League, there will be billions spent but they are bringing in household names. Rangers haven’t done that. Bruno Alves is the only one. “It’s still a shocking result but the fans have to get behind Pedro because they know that he’s there for the considerable future. You have to give him support. “I don’t think they can usurp Celtic but should aim to get above Aberdeen. But with the business they are doing, it’s hard to see Gers finishing second. “If they had won then the Limassol game would have been difficult. Maybe it’s a blessing not to be there. “Yes, there’s the revenue but they are such a big club with such a big support and have control over merchandise, they should be able to get revenue.” Ray Wilkins also branded old the Europa League exit as “atrocious” – and criticised manager Caixinha for signing too many foreign players. Former England, Chelsea and Manchester United player Wilkins, who played for the Ibrox side between 1987 and 1989, said: “It’s absolutely disgraceful. You can’t be knocked out at this stage. “A club with the stature of Glasgow Rangers going out to a side from Luxembourg, it’s atrocious. “You think of the revenue that has already been lost. I really can’t believe it, to lose is unbelievable. “Rangers have brought in a lot of foreign players who don’t quite understand the ferocity of Scottish football.” Meanwhile, Jordan Rossiter last night admitted Rangers’ shameful defeat will never be forgotten. And the Ibrox midfielder has confessed that not even winning a major trophy this season will be able to erase the ignominy of the Europa League disaster. Rossiter said: “There are no words for it and no excuses. I can’t apologise to the fans enough. I don’t think they will forget this and we won’t forget this. “A trophy is the main thing and we need to try to win as many games as possible and as many trophies as possible. “I don’t think anything can put it right but we need to do our best to try.”