Warburton hopes Rangers can learn from tough German lesson
MARK WARBURTON hopes Rangers will learn their lessons from a comprehensive defeat after a 4-0 friendly loss to Red Bull Leipzig yesterday.
The Ibrox outfit returned to action after the winter break against the Bundesliga high-flyers and were outclassed for long spells of a one-sided encounter.
Rangers host Motherwell in the Scottish Cup this weekend and manager Warburton was frustrated with a poor showing from his side.
He said: “The fans were incredible. I have to thank them. But, just 30 seconds into the game, a pass went astray when we were in. That isn’t good enough. Then, in the latter stages, there were balls from Martyn Waghorn and Michael O’Halloran that didn’t go to feet. Our final ball wasn’t good enough.
“It’s too easy to say it’s the level of player and they are on X amount of money each week. We got ourselves into good positions and we have to be better with our final ball. When you give the ball away against that level of opposition you just run. By the end of the game you’re dead on your feet.
“We gave the ball away too cheaply. We have to take those challenges and the more games we play against teams at that level the better. We have got to get the club back into Europe. They are one of the top teams in the Bundesliga and we know we have to be better.
“We learned a lesson because when you give the ball away against teams like that you can spend the next five minutes running around chasing after it. We have to be sharper. We have to be better. It was a difficult one because you go from games where you have 70 per cent possession to that today. But we will learn.
“We knew taking these types of games could be a risk. They have been sitting second in the Bundesliga and they are a top, top European side.
“You could go and play a meaningless friendly and win 5-0. Or you could take a match against a top team and go and challenge yourself. We have to recognise that was the challenge we wanted.”
Scotland international Oliver Burke was one of the scorers for Leipzig as Rangers got vital match minutes under their belts.
Jon Toral was handed a start at the Red Bull Arena while Emerson Hyndman made his debut from the bench at the break.
Warburton added: “I think it was good for the new boys. They have had a whirlwind week.
“They have signed for the club, moved house, brought family from Spain and moving from Bournemouth.
“It was good to get them pitch time. Jon Toral showed his quality in the first half. He is a very tidy, technical player on the ball. Emerson came in for the second half. It was a tough game to come into but he did well.”