Germans say cup has been ‘devalued’ by fans shutout

BAYER Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz insists the Europa League has been devalued by their last-16 second leg against Rangers being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus crisis.

The 56-year-old Dutchman feels postponing the tie altogether would have been preferable and argues that Steven Gerrard’s men have been given an advantage by tonight’s first-leg full house at Ibrox.

Bayer confirmed on Monday that fans would be shut out from its 30,000-seat BayArena in seven days’ time after the authorities in Germany decided to cancel all major events of more than 1,000 people.

Bosz appreciates the difficulties created by an unprecedented situation but is against continuing to play without spectators.

UEFA announced yesterday that two Europa League last-16 ties — Sevilla v Roma and Inter Milan v Getafe — would be postponed as football attempts to respond to the pandemic.

‘We’re looking forward to playing here,’ said Bosz. ‘What is happening in Europe at the moment is strange and next Monday we will play without fans (against Werder Bremen), which is something we shouldn’t do.

‘We play for the fans as professional soccer players and they are not allowed to be there. I don’t understand it but I’m not the president of the federation. I’m looking forward to tomorrow as we’re playing in front of fans.’

Asked if Rangers now had an advantage, Bosz added: ‘Absolutely, but they are not to blame because they haven’t decided it.

‘As I said, I’m looking forward to playing here but when you play in front of home fans they are for you and that’s an advantage if we, in turn, are playing in front of an empty stadium.

‘To be honest, the competition has been devalued. Because we play for the fans. No one is to blame but it is strange.

‘Absolutely I would prefer it to be postponed. But I understand. We don’t know where all this is going, everything is usually planned until the end of May.

‘If you start to postpone games, when do you stop postponing them? But we play this game for the fans and, if they are not there, it isn’t right.

‘I don’t know whether it will be more difficult to motivate the players because I haven’t experienced this before.

‘I watched Juventus against Inter behind closed doors and it was strange — you could hear everyone in the stadium saying everything.’

Bosz would also have preferred for his players to be able to train on the Ibrox pitch last night. The weather-beaten state of the surface meant Rangers couldn’t grant that opportunity.

‘Yes, sure I’m disappointed we can’t train on the pitch,’ continued former Feyenoord midfielder Bosz.

‘Also, because it is a rhythm you have in Europe — something special, train in the stadium the night before, get used to the pitch, I always liked that.

‘We had a little tour and the players went back to the hotel but, okay, we have to adapt to it. We trained in Germany in the morning before flying here.

‘We can’t complain — it is what it is. A good pitch would have been important to us but we will still try to play our own style of offensive football.’

Bosz is aware of the domestic difficulties Rangers have endured since the winter break but remains cautious about the threat posed by a team unbeaten at home in Europe during two seasons of Steven Gerrard’s management.

‘I expect a team that wants to win at home, cheered forward by their fans,’ he added. ‘They have done well in Europe, especially at home, and we are prepared for it and we hope to do well.

‘I don’t like to talk about individuals for Rangers, I always talk about the team. Individual players can’t win the games, although they can lose it. I always look at the team and, in Europe, Rangers performed really well. It will be a tough, interesting game.

‘I never played against Steven Gerrard as I’m a bit older. As a player he was outstanding, unbelievable.

‘As a manager, I truly don’t know as I can only talk about managers when I have worked with them — but being a manager is completely different from being a player.

‘A lot of top players think they can be top managers, too, but it’s not true.

‘However, looking at results here, Gerrard is doing a good job.

‘It’s not easy for Rangers to come back from where they have been and still be No2 to Celtic but maybe in the years ahead they will return and beat them.’