Midtjylland manager Andersen takes hope from Celtic turnaround

THE odds have already been upset once this week in Glasgow. Now, Midtjylland are out to complete a remarkable double.

Kenneth Andersen’s side arrived in Scotland just 24 hours after Celtic were dumped out of Champions League qualifying by Cluj and have set their sights on a similar outcome when they face Rangers.

Steven Gerrard’s side take a 4-2 advantage into the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie this evening and are huge favourites to clinch a play-off berth.

The Ibrox manager warned his players against taking anything for granted on the back of the shock defeat for Celtic that saw them fall into the secondary European competition.

And Andersen knows it would be another significant upset if Midtjylland were to turn the tables on Rangers this evening.

He said: “We hope to cause a similar shock, it will be a very big challenge but we will try to take it. You will see how we approach it.

“The first goal could be very important, when you are in the situation we are in, then if you can score early it would be very good as it would give our players more belief.

“But it’s also important for them to remember we don’t have to score in the first 10 minutes. The pressure is on us. They have done a good job in the first game and it looks good for them. They have a lot of good players and we have seen all of them before, so there was no-one who surprised us.

“[Alfredo] Morelos did a very good job in Denmark. He is a very strong attacker. He gave us troubles but all over the pitch they have quality.

“I look at the game again and it was an equal match in the first half, but scoring shortly before the break gave them an advantage at that stage in the game. Maybe the game would have ended differently had we scored the first goal.”

Rangers were three goals ahead and cruising in Denmark last week but it took a late Scott Arfield strike to give them a cushion after Midtjylland scored twice in quick succession.

Morelos, Joe Aribo and Nikola Katic were also on target at the MCH Arena as Gerrard’s side took a significant step towards the final qualifying round.

Andersen said: “There will be no complacency from Rangers. When you have won away from home and by two clear goals and the opponents have to score three in the return leg as a result, you must say to the players it is not over. Steven Gerrard wants to put that into his players – I would do the same.

“In this situation it would be a great result if we can win through in this tie. However, we need to defend a little better. It was too easy for Rangers to score four goals in the first leg. Of course, we also need to score three so we have to create more chances this time around.”

The challenge for Midtjylland tonight is a considerable one and only time will tell what side Gerrard selects for the second leg.

The Danes – including former Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko – found it tough-going against Morelos. For Alex Scholz, that must be the first area of improvement.

He said: “We didn’t handle Morelos too well, but if we can shock them with a goal or two we can bring doubt to the fans and it could spread to their players. It is down to us to create this doubt, which we could not do in the first game. I admit the pressure is on us, not just to win, but to win massively.”

The first goal could be very important, when you are in the situation we are in, then if you can score early it would be very good