RANGERS COVID CRISIS
Manager and SIX first-team players isolate and miss crunch Euro match
RANGERS boss Steven Gerrard and six top stars have been hit by a Covid outbreak. The manager and players were in isolation yesterday as the rest of the team flew out for today’s Europa League play-off in Armenia.
RANGERS have been hit by a Covid-19 outbreak – with Steven Gerrard and six first-team stars forced into isolation.
The Scottish champions flew to Armenia yesterday for the second leg of a Europa League play-off without their manager and several key players.
They will this afternoon attempt to defend a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg against Alashkert.
The Glasgow club are bidding to get into the competition’s lucrative group stages for the fourth season in a row but will be without skipper James Tavernier, first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor and his back-up Jon McLaughlin.
Forwards Ryan Kent and Scott Wright and defender Calvin Bassey were also absent from the group that boarded a flight to west Asia yesterday.
Rookie goalies Robby McRorie and Kieran Wright will step up in the absence of McGregor and McLaughlin.
It is understood one first-team player returned a positive test following the first-leg clash with Alashkert at Ibrox last Thursday.
At least two of his team-mates, who failed to make the flight to Armenian capital Yerevan, have also returned positive results for coronavirus.
The Covid crisis comes as Rangers face two crucial early-season matches.
Qualifying for the Europa League group stages could generate £20million of income and the first Old Firm derby of the season will be played at Ibrox on Sunday.
Rangers’ assistant manager Gary McAllister is expected to be in the dug-out for both matches and said Gerrard will address the players before the game via video link.
Speaking in Armenia last night, McAllister said: “The manager will still speak to the players and we have Michael Beale [ first-team coach] here along with myself. We are in constant contact with Steven [Gerrard]. When you see the team tomorrow, you will see it can play in most games.
“Obviously we are adapting and we are purely focused on the job at hand.”
Midfielder Scott Arfield said: “It isn’t an ideal situation, of course, but every club has been impacted by this.”
A Rangers insider said: “The players affected are devastated that this should happen so soon before two huge matches.
“The situation is bad but at one point it was feared it would get a lot worse. They’re tested frequently but when a positive test comes back, it causes a panic.”
The club confirmed on Tuesday night it had received positive Covid tests which would impact the squad.
It said: “Rangers can confirm that during our testing schedule, we have received positive Covid-19 tests.
“Those identified as positive are now in self-isolation along with ‘close contacts’.
“We have followed best practice in our procedures and protocols.
“From the outset of the pandemic, Rangers has worked closely with the Scottish Government and Scottish football to ensure the health of our staff is protected at all times. We will continue to do so.”
Earlier this season, Swedish defender Filip Helander went into islolation after returning a positive Covid test.
Bookmakers William Hill yesterday slashed the odds of an Alashkert victory from 17-2 to just 9-2. But Rangers remain 8-15 favourites to get through.
Today’s match is being screened live on BBC Scotland. Coverage begins at 3.45pm, with the match kicking off at 4pm.