Serbian teams can learn from Rangers, says icon

RED STAR BELGRADE legend Milorad Kosanovic reckons Rangers should be regarded as the benchmark for Serbian teams in Europe and predicted the club he’s managed twice have no chance of a Europa League comeback.

Rangers stormed to a 3-0 first leg lead with goals from James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos (pictured) and are strong favourites to complete the job at the Marakana next week to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Serbians were unhappy at huge VAR decisions during the game and they also had three goals disallowed and missed a penalty.

But veteran boss Kosanovic — who has also been in charge of his country’s Under-21s team, clubs in China and had two spells as Red Star manager — reckons his old club should quit moaning and start studying.

He said: ‘It should be pointed out that Rangers have been at this stage in European football for the past few years. They belong to the cream of the Europa League. Just look at their stadium. The noise, the atmosphere, full stands and fans singing for 90 minutes. It was a pleasure to watch the game. ‘We get nothing like that in Serbia. We need to learn from it.

‘As for the football, while I believe Red Star were unlucky and I think they could score two or even three goals at the Marakana, there is no way they won’t concede.

‘They have to give it a go, but they will be up against an opponent who plays good football, won’t cry and doesn’t cheat.

‘In Serbia, Red Star and Partizan play against teams who are clearly not good enough and that’s why they get such a shock at the upgrade of opposition when they play in Europe. Both Red Star and Partizan are really weak defensively. We Serbians have a much higher opinion of our game than is realistic ‘Red Star actually played a good game in Glasgow, but they were defeated by their poor defending.’