With Aaron’s quality in at it, and Wales can go The team, Rangers will have a real shot o all the way to the World Cup Finals
Wales legend DEAN SAUNDERS believes Ramsey
Dean Saunders has coached Aaron Ramsey, and believes he is one of the most-intelligent footballers in European football.
And the Wales legend believes that if his fellow countryman is fit to play for Rangers in the Europa League Final, it will only increase their chances of success.
Ramsey moved to Ibrox on loan in January from Juventus, but has spent a lot of time on the sidelines with niggly injuries.
He was an unused substitute in the stunning 3-1 win against RB Leipzig that clinched a place in the Seville showpiece against Eintracht Frankfurt on May 18.
Saunders now wants to see Ramsey kick on in the final weeks of the season as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side chase glory in Europe and domestically.
The former man of many
He has tremendous ability, and his intelligence on the field of play is as good as anyone on the scene
clubs – Liverpool, Aston Villa and Galatasaray among them – told The Sunday Post: “I’ve known Aaron for many years, and coached him with the Wales national team.
“He is a wonderful athlete, and, when fully fit, can make runs all day long.
“His timing is impeccable, and players on his wavelength will always find him.
“Aaron just knows the exact moment of when to penetrate into the final third, and hit the opposition penalty box.
“He has tremendous ability, and his intelligence on the field of play is as good as any player on the scene.
“It’s just been unfortunate that he has had injuries to contend with for a few years. But when he is available, he is an asset and a delight.
“I’m sure Rangers will see it that way in the coming weeks, and they have two cup finals this month.
“The first is against Eintracht, then three days later they play Hearts in the Scottish Cup Final.
“Success in European football would be incredible for a Scottish club. Aaron can help Rangers pull it off.
“It’s by no means a certainty – but why can’t Rangers do it?
“Listen, it makes no odds to me whether Rangers win it or not because I’m not a Rangers or a Celtic man.
“But with a quality player such as Aaron in the team, Rangers have a real shot at it.
“I looked through the Rangers team from the other night when they defeated Leipzig, and they had assembled it for less than
£15-million. Steven Gerrard, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the scouting staff deserve enormous credit for what they’ve built in the past two or three years.
“They have found guys such as John Lundstram, Calvin Bassey, Ryan Jack and Scott Wright for next to no fees, and that’s quite incredible.
“We will wait and see where the next couple of weeks take them. They have so much to play for.”
At the end of the domestic season, attention will quickly turn to the international scene and the hugely- important games for Saunders’ Wales and Scotland.
Steve Clarke’s side play Ukraine at Hampden on June 1, and the winner will go to Cardiff four days later to play for the right to be at Qatar for the 2022 World Cup Finals.
Saunders – 58 next month – was capped 75 times for Wales, and played alongside the likes of Mark Hughes, Neville Southall, Ian Rush and Ryan Giggs.
Despite that quality, they never made it to a major tournament. But the nation has since qualified for
Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
Saunders is impressed with the Welsh side and said: “My view in the past few months has changed, and I believe we are now a very athletic side.
“We have Gareth Bale, Dan James, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts and, of course, Aaron Ramsey, and they are talented and powerful.
“Gareth, obviously, is the superstar. The main man.
“But he would be the first to emphasise that he needs Aaron in the team and vice-versa.
“They play well off of each other. When we beat Turkey at the Euros last summer, they were both exceptional, and Aaron’s runs into the box were incredible.
“So we can’t underestimate the importance of them.
“We also have a good home record, and playing in Cardiff is what the players want. It can be very helpful.
“It’s now a waiting game for us in terms of who we end up playing in the play-off Final. But we’ll be ready, whether it’s Scotland or Ukraine.”
Saunders has sympathy for what is going on in Ukraine, and hopes to see peace break out as soon as possible.
He said: “My heart goes out to all of them, it really does. When it comes down to it, football is not important.
“But the games will be played, and every player and member of the coaching staff will need to be focused.
“Steve Clarke will demand that of his players next month, and rightly so. There is so much at stake.
These guys are just a game or two away from it, and they should embrace the challenge as it’s a special time
“There’s every chance many of the Scotland lads will be turning up on a high, whether it’s the Celtic boys winning the League, or the Rangers boys winning in Europe.
“There is also Andy Robertson playing in the Champions League Final for Liverpool.
“That’s got to be great for their spirit and confidence.
“But we could have Aaron coming to join us feeling great with what he might achieve with Rangers.
“All in all, it makes for a cracking week, or so.
“I had a most enjoyable career, but I never played in a World Cup Finals.
“These guys are just a game or two away from it, and they should embrace the challenge as it is a special, special time.”