GERRARD RANGERS £10m EUROPA DREAM
CHEEKY Ufa boss Sergei Tomarov wants to knock Rangers out of Europe – then nick half their team.
The Russians admit they are facing the biggest game in their history ahead of tonight’s Europa League play-off second leg.
They’re battling to turn over a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox in the first leg – Connor Goldson on target – and continue the upward momentum of a club that was only formed in 2010.
Ufa boss Tomarov, like Rangers rival Steven Gerrard, has not been slow to raid his Euro rivals for stars who have caught his eye.
They signed striker Lovro Bizjak from Domzale, the side they overcame in the second qualifying round, and are finalising a deal to snap up midfielder Olivier Thill from Progres who were put to the sword last time around.
It matches the policy of Gerrard who snapped up Borna Barisic from Osijek and is also tying up the loose ends on a £2million move for FROM GARY RALSTON in Ufa Albanian winger Eros Grezda from the Croat club.
Tongue-in-cheek Tomarov made it clear a trio of Rangers stars have already caught his eye as he prepares his side for a 15,000 sell-out at the Neftyanik Stadium.
He said: “Who do I fancy? I really liked Alfredo Morelos up front, Goldson in defence and the captain James Tavernier at right-back.
“However, time isn’t on our side because the transfer deadline is very soon.
“A lot of the players in the Rangers squad are young and talented and many of them have come from academies of British clubs. I hope they will become big stars in future.
“I can say for a fact this is the most important game in our history because we’ve gone in seven years from the third tier of Russian football to the Premier League.
“Now we’re in the Europa League and within touching distance of the group stage. Who knows, maybe next time it will be the Champions League, so we go step by step.”
Ufa don’t have problems to seek heading into the game although Rangers know how well drilled they can be after a stuffy performance at Ibrox seven days ago.
Tomarov’s side have won only two of the competitive games they have played this season and have gone the last five without victory, including four defeats.
To add to his headaches flaky goalkeeper Aleksandr Belenov, a bag of nerves in the first leg, was replaced for the 2-0 defeat by Zenit at the weekend by Giori Sheliya who made his first appearance for the top team in a year.
Tomarov said: “I’ve made my mind up 80 per cent on who will be goalkeeper against Rangers but I’ve still got a day to go before the match so I can still change my mind.
“The atmosphere around the team is not too good. The team has suffered some defeats and bad results.
“But we will try not to focus only on the future. We’ll do everything to win.
“Rangers are a strong team and have gone a long time without defeat under Gerrard. It’s a very aggressive side, especially at Ibrox, and they always try to go for positive results. I don’t see that changing against us.”
Rangers were sloppy at setpieces against Motherwell, conceding from a corner and a free-kick when they have been so well drilled until now by coach Michael Beale.
Tomarov added: “Yes, we watched the Motherwell game and saw Rangers conceded from a corner and free-kick but we can’t forecast how it will turn out. It depends on the players and situations.”