History awaits as Van Bronckhorst looks to join the Ibrox legends
Rangers manager praises the character and fitness of his players as he dreams of Seville
THE names are synonymous with success and are some of the most lauded and cherished at Ibrox. Giovanni van Bronckhorst can now join the pantheon of legendary Rangers managers.
Only three men who have held the illustrious position have taken their side to the final of a European competition – Scot Symon, Willie Waddell and Walter Smith.
Symon’s bids for glory were thwarted by Fiorentina and Bayern Munich, while Smith was unable to overcome Zenit St Petersburg when Rangers last graced such a stage 14 years ago.
The champions are now 90 minutes from Seville. Indeed, they are just two games away from immortality, from a feat that would perhaps surpass the legendary Barcelona Bears in the 50th anniversary season of Rangers’ finest moment.
Victory over RB Leipzig this evening will see the record books rewritten at Ibrox. For this squad and this manager, it is a shot at glory, perhaps the only one they will get, that cannot be passed up as
Rangers attempt to follow in the footsteps of their illustrious predecessors.
“Well, of course,” Van Bronckhorst said when asked if he had taken the time to think how close he is to achieving something special this season. “You have goals in your career as a player and as a coach. You want to achieve great things and you dream of coaching teams in finals.
“You have that as a player, you have that as a coach and that gives you the drive to keep going.
“We are one step away from reaching the final so we are getting closer and closer. You know, our European campaign this year has been great and we want to make sure we extend that to the final.
“I am not thinking about any personal goals. I am thinking about being successful with the club. For me the club is the most important thing now.
“There are not many times that the team have played in a final in Europe so hopefully we’ll be joining a very elite group.
“That’s all that matters. We are all here to bring success and bring trophies to this beautiful club. That’s always my main target.”
If Rangers are to keep the European dream alive, it will take a performance that tops so many incredible ones that have been produced already this term.
Defeat in Germany last week ensured Rangers were down but far from out and Van Bronckhorst’s side must now rise to the occasion again when that familiar theme music reverberates around Ibrox.
The Dutchman has seen his players show remarkable physical strength and mental fortitude in Old Firm fixtures
and continental clashes in recent weeks and the bar will need to be raised once again.
Van Bronckhorst said: “They will [go the distance]. Physically we have been good. Of course we missed some players due to injuries but also physically a lot comes from your mental strength and we have that.
“To play every game in the last weeks has been big against very good opponents but we were there every game and this will be the same.
“We play against a strong team, not only technically but physically, but I think we are able to match them and to give everything we can to be the winners.
“Character is amazing in my team and physically I know they are good as well.
“It is not easy because you have to rest and recover well and make sure you do everything you can to be as fit as possible for the games. The players are doing that and also with the support of all the back-room staff we have at the club.”
There was a quiet confidence in the way Van Bronckhorst and Ryan Jack spoke following the first-leg defeat last week as Angelino’s late strike proved the difference on the night.
Rangers equipped themselves well in the
Red Bull Arena and their disappointment at the scoreline told its own story.
Ibrox now expects as it prepares to pay tribute to iconic kit man and legendary figure Jimmy Bell. There could be 11 heroes on the pitch, but the 50,000-strong support will have played its own part if Rangers emerge victorious.
“Of course we all have the same goal and that is to reach the final,” Van Bronckhorst said. “My players, my staff,
we all do the best we can to be prepared.
“I think the fans are always important for us at home and they are a big factor in the atmosphere. It will be the same and we are going to have a noisy night. A noisy night we need to overcome this opponent. It will be emotional but we will be ready when the whistle goes.”
Rangers will respect the challenge that awaits them in the second leg but they need not fear an opponent who find themselves in a difficult moment in a season that could yet deliver so much.
Defeats to Union Berlin and Borussia Monchengladbach have seen Domenico Tedesco’s side slip out of the Champions League spots in the Bundesliga and many expected Rangers to be beaten more comfortably in Saxony.
A DFB-Pokal final spot already awaits this month and Leipzig now have their sights set on their first European final and what would be a key milestone for the fledgling club.
Van Bronckhorst said: “I can only talk about my players and my team. But of course we have seen the last few games they have played in the league.
“They haven’t had the results they wanted and they are now in fifth place. Of course, Champions League football is also important for Red Bull Leipzig so they will do everything they can to win this game. We have to prepare as well as possible.
“Of course, we played against them just last week so I have a better view on their players in terms of their qualities and their strengths as well as their weaknesses.
“We just have to prepare for a really tough game against a really good opponent.
“We both want to reach the final but, of course, I am the Rangers manager and I will be doing everything I can to be in the final in Seville.”