FRIDGE PLEASER
RANGERS EURO ADVENTURE
GEORGE EDMUNDSON was just a 10-year-old kid when Rangers fans invaded his home town after reaching the UEFA Cup Final in 2008.
But on Wednesday night in Braga the defender nicknamed The Fridge played his part in the type of display Walter Smith’s men produced to defy the odds and go all the way to the City of Manchester Stadium.
And the fact the 22-yearold stopper was gifting a goal in a 3-1 defeat to nowdefunct Bury for Oldham in England’s League Two just 12 months ago shows just how far the Mancunian has come in a short space of time.
Edmundson repaid Gers gaffer Steven Gerrard’s faith in the Estadio Municipal with a rock-solid display at the heart of defence as Ryan Kent’s goal earned a 4-2 aggregate victory against the top scorers in this season’s Europa League.
Edmundson replaced Niko Katic after the Croat’s shaky display in the 2-2 draw at St Johnstone and he looks to have played his way into
BY GAVIN BERRY tomorrow’s starting 11 for the Scottish Cup quarterfinal trip to Hearts.
Skipper James Tavernier claimed after the win Gers have nothing to fear ahead of today’s last-16 draw in Nyon as fans dream of going all the way to the Final in Gdansk.
Edmundson was still at school the last time the Light Blues managed that with the Final on his doorstep at the home of his boyhood heroes with the Ibrox side losing 2-0 to Zenit St Petersburg.
He said: “I remember when Rangers got to the UEFA Cup Final at the City of Manchester Stadium.
“I was only 10 but I remember reading about it in the newspapers.
“I was a Manchester City fan but never got the chance to watch them in Europe because I was always playing football so European football is a new experience.
“Wednesday was great, one of the best days of my life and the best game I’ve been involved in.
“I found out a couple of days before that there was a chance I would be playing because the gaffer said, ‘Be ready, you never know, you might be playing’.
“I get more excited than nervous. I just want to show people what I can do. The challenge was different to the Premiership in that it was more technical and positional as opposed to winning big headers.
“But I felt we stepped up to it well and on a personal level I thought I did all right.
“Connor Goldson is massive for me. He took me under his wing and helps me every day. He’s a top pro and he helps me through games.
“All the centre-backs have a really good relationship. We know we’re all fighting for two spots and whoever gets them, we’re not the type of guys to be bitter.
“Niko came up to me and wished me all the best. When Niko plays I do the same for him. There’s no hard feelings, we want each other do well.
“I remember losing 3-1 to Bury a year ago – and I gave a goal away as well – so it’s quite a contrast from Braga’s stadium to Gigg Lane.
“Hopefully I can keep improving and you never know where I’ll end up but I’m not getting too ahead of myself. I hope this is the start of a run in the team.”
While Katic was dropped, striker Alfredo Morelos had to sit out the Portuguese trip through suspension and Flo Kamberi came in for his first start.
The on-loan Hibs striker is another who wants games but he’s ineligible for the Cup trip to Hearts.
Kamberi said: “It’s important for any player to get a run of games but I’m cup-tied on Saturday so I can’t change that and I’ll just recover, train and prepare for Hamilton at home.
“My aim in Portugal was to give the manage something to think about and show him I deserve to be on the pitch.
“It was a special night and to qualify for the last 16 was unbelievable.
“I had a chance early on and if I had executed it perfectly then it would have been a goal. But it doesn’t matter who scores, we are through and that’s the most important thing. “It’s a dream of every ambitious footballer to play in Europe. I’ve been delighted at Rangers since day one and things are going well so I hope it continues.”