Slavia boss excited for showdown with Gerrard

JINDRICH TRPISOVSKY is relishing the chance to go headto-head with Steven Gerrard after being paired against Rangers in the Europa League last 16.

Slavia Prague took the scalp of Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City on Thursday night as they qualified to the second knock-out round and booked their place in Friday’s draw.

Now a trip to Ibrox awaits the Czech outfit as they bid to end Rangers’ unbeaten run on the continent this term and secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Rangers were 9-5 aggregate winners over Royal Antwerp in the last 32 and Trpisovsky is eagerly anticipating his showdown with Gerrard’s side next month.

Trpisovsky said: “I am excited and satisfied with the draw. They are coached by a former great player and a great coach in Steven Gerrard who I have always admired. “In addition they have a beautiful stadium. I wanted us to draw another British team after beating Leicester City. We haven’t been to Scotland yet, so I’m extremely satisfied.”

Elsewhere, Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return to Old Trafford after Manchester United were drawn against AC Milan in a mouth-watering Europa League last-16 tie.

Tottenham will face Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb and are due to play the second leg at home, but UEFA said that the “fixtures may be switched pending confirmation of Covid-19 travel restrictions” in this tie.

Arsenal have been drawn against old foes Olympiacos, who knocked them out of the Europa League at the roundof-32 stage last season.