EUR STILL IN WITH A SHOUT
Bundesliga expert Spackman refuses to write off high-flying Rangers as Germans haven’t played in a month
THE belief grows as the words flow.
The more Nigel Spackman talks about the task facing Rangers in Leverkusen on Thursday, the more he realises there is a chance the Light Blues could pull off something spectacular.
His old side might need to overturn a 3-1 deficit in one of the toughest arenas in German football if they want to clinch a Europa League quarter-final spot.
But former Ibrox hero Spackman, now a co-commentator on German football for BT Sport, reckons fate might just be shuffling itself into the Light Blues’ corner at the right time.
Had the second leg gone ahead as scheduled in March he’d have given Steven Gerrard’s side next to no chance.
Leverkusen were on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, Rangers were stumbling further and further off the pace in Scotland and the BayArena would have been full of expectant Bayer fans baying for blood.
As it is Rangers now head to and empty stadium on the back of six victories, albeit five of them friendly matches, and five clean sheets.
The Germans on the other hand have been in cold storage for a month after finishing their campaign in less than spectacular fashion and with transfer speculation over golden boy Kai Havertz never far away.
For the seemingly-impossible to become achievable, Rangers need goals – at least three of them. And that is the major sticking point for Spackman.
He told Record Sport: “Make no mistake this is a huge task
BY fRaSeR WilSon facing Rangers. We all know Leverkusen have fantastic talent in their squad and they showed that at Ibrox.
“For Rangers to score three or four goals is difficult to see even though they have started the season well.
“The movement of Kent, Hagi and Aribo is good. They just need to be a little more ruthless if they want to be successful.
“If they manage to bring that aspect to their game in Germany, because Leverkusen like to attack and leave spaces, then if Rangers get one you just never know.
“They look sharp, they look fit whereas Leverkusen with the lay-off might not quite be up to the standards they would want to be.
“Since German football restarted they’ve kind of been up and down and inconsistent.
“I saw them in the German Cup Final. They didn’t really show their best form in that match and hopefully they won’t against Rangers either. They were having a good second half to the season but with lockdown and with the speculation over Kai Havertz they just fell off it and got pipped for the fourth Champions League spot.
“But they are a good team – no doubt about it.
“Maybe the weakness is defensively. If Rangers are positive and have a real good go at them, press them high up, then it could be very interesting.
“The nerves would set in for them because they’ve not had the competitive games.
“Rangers need to score first. If it’s 1-0 at half-time then that’s
fantastic. Then they can go for it as the second half progresses.
“They need to start sharp, press the ball and test them out early on. If there’s no early goal they need to settle into the game and stay solid.
“Leverkusen love to hit teams on the counter. They have good pace and with Kevin Volland now back playing he could be an out-and-out No.9 with Havertz in the 10 position, making them are really dangerous.
“Steven and his coaching staff will be saying to the players, ‘Look, if we keep a clean sheet and are 1-0 up with 30 minutes to go they could really start to tire’.
“Psychologically they could start to wilt. A second goal would really swing the momentum in Rangers’ favour.
“I’m surprised Leverkusen haven’t taken any friendlies on in the last month.
“From the psychological point of view it might be that they think they’ve finished the season, played the Cup Final and mentally they need a rest from it.
“But maybe they think the tie is over? That could be very dangerous.” Spackman has absolutely no doubt that the empty stands will be to Rangers’ benefit come kick-off time.
Leverkusen are renowned for feeding off the energy of their supporters in the tight confines of the BayArena.
But on Thursday they will have nothing but the echoes of their own voices ringing round the perimeter.
The former Ibrox midfielder added: “That’s huge for Rangers. I think with no crowd there, no hostility, it’s an eerie atmosphere in these grounds at the moment and one I think really suits the away team.
“There will be no crowd to lift Leverkusen. One goal puts them on the back foot and confidence grows among the Rangers players. You just never know in football.
“It would be an amazing turnaround for Rangers but they have to believe. Steven Gerrard certainly knows a thing or two about miracle comebacks.
“If ever there was a situation where you say, ‘We’re still in with a chance’ then this is it.”