Kranjcar reveals Rangers team-mates

Niko Kranjcar gave Rangers fans hope for the future with a stunning free-kick against Marseille at Ibrox.

But the Croat revealed afterwards that he and his team-mates are still hurting from their Euro exit three weeks ago.

The midfielder’s sublime set-piece with 15 minutes to go salvaged a draw in a competitive friendly.

Kranjcar’s performance, along with positive displays from new boys Bruno Alves, Graham Dorrans and Daniel Candeias offered some encouragement to the Ibrox support.

After the embarrassing defeat to Progres Neiderkorn on July 4, Pedro Caixinha and his side are desperate to move on ahead of the SPFL kick-off.

But Kranjcar admits the pain of the failure in Luxembourg is still raw and said: “We’re all disappointed that we’re having to play a friendly game instead of a Europa League tie.

“Progres is in the past but that doesn’t mean you can forget it.

“We were all humiliated after that game. I felt it really deep, we all did.

“As footballers we are responsible for wearing this shirt. We have to be better than that.

“You don’t want to be playing friendly games, you want competitive matches.

“But now we’ll have to be patient for the start of the league when we can show our qual ity as a team.” Portuguese gaffer Caixinha took most of the flak for Rangers’ Euro exit but Kranjcar insists the players were to blame and hopes their performance against Marseille is evidence they are improving.

He said: “They are one of the big teams in France with top players but we more than held our own.

“So there are definite signs that we’re getting better. But the Progres defeat is still at the back of our minds.

“We can’t wait until the season starts so we can right those wrongs.

“Everyone in that dressing room knows it wasn’t good enough to lose to them. We have to uphold the tradition of this club. We’ve taken it on the chin but we can only make up for it on the pitch.”

Alves and Dorrans weren’t available in Europe and on yesterday’s showing they’ll certainly make a difference to Caixinha’s side.

Rangers play Watford behind closed doors this week then take on Sheffield Wednesday in front of 10,000 away fans at Hillsborough before opening the season at Motherwell.

And Kranjcar is confident they’ll be ready for Fir Park on August 6.

He said: “We’re gelling as a group. Bruno and Graham are obviously two massive pieces of the puzzle that weren’t in Luxembourg. You can see