Leverkusen star fires warning to Gers
BAYER LEVERKUSEN star Leon Bailey admits he has nothing but respect for ‘legend’ Steven Gerrard – but he’s convinced his team-mates will crush his European dream.
And the Jamaican winger is certain the in-form Bundesliga high-fliers can end the tie as a contest in the first leg at Ibrox.
Leverkusen will arrive in Scotland full of confidence after an outstanding recent run, with Peter Bosz’s side having won eight of their last nine games.
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Bailey said: “We are going to Glasgow full of confidence and that’s important. We are ready for the game. We are going there to play the type of football that has seen us winning games.
“We won’t change our style for this one game. Winning games gives us confidence. We expect to get a victory. We think we can win in Scotland and we think we can succeed in the home leg, too.
“Steven Gerrard is a legend. Of course, I admired him as a player. He was an incredible midfielder. He must have gained a lot of knowledge as a player and I am sure he would have passed this on to the Rangers players.
“And we have to prepared for anything that they throw at us. But we are going there to get the job done. We are in a really good place just now. We are playing well, winning games and we all have a good chemistry with each other.”
Meanwhile, Hearts manager Daniel Stendel reckons Rangers will find Bayer Leverkusen too hot to handle.
The German still keeps tabs on football back in his homeland and expects Bosz’s team to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Stendel said: “In every game you have a chance. Normally you would say Hamilton have no chance against Rangers and we have no chance but we beat Rangers two times. Leverkusen are a top team in the Bundesliga. They’re in form at the moment and I think it will be really difficult for Rangers to win over two games but they have a chance.”
Asked what makes Leverkusen such dangerous opponents, Stendel replied: “Offence: really quick, fast players and their counter-attack is unbelievable.
“I watched some of their game at the weekend. They have a Dutch manager but in the last few years Leverkusen every time have this style and have really good players in offence.”