Cardoso is a tidy player but I got in behind him a couple of times and should have scored .. I won’t miss again if we clash in Europe
Coleraine star wants rematch in qualifiers
EOIN BRADLEY has his heart set on a dream Europa League clash against Rangers after getting a close look at some of Pedro Caixinha’s new signings behind closed doors on Thursday.
The Coleraine hitman couldn’t stop the part-time Northern Irish outfit losing 5-0 at Murray Park but insisted taking on the likes of Portuguese new boys Fabio Cardoso and Dalcio has whetted the appetite for the real thing when the Europa League qualifying draw is made on Monday.
And Celtic-daft striker Bradley insists he’d love nothing more than to go one better than hitting the bar, as he did in the friendly, if the clubs get it on for real at the end of the month.
The 32-year-old admits he should have scored when he ran clean through on goal after peeling away from Cardoso – then joked he wouldn’t make the same mistake at Ibrox.
Bradley said: “It was a great experience to play against the likes of Cardoso and Dalcio. I am glad Rangers gave them an outing and played a strong team.
“It is hard to judge or gauge anybody on 45 minutes of pre-season football.
“Cardoso and Dalcio were playing with their new team-mates for the first time and they will definitely improve.
“They both looked very comfortable on the ball and have decent technique.
“I was impressed enough with the Portuguese boys and they both look as if they will be good signings and do a real job for Rangers.
“Cardoso in particular will benefit greatly from having the vastly experienced Bruno Alves alongside him in central defence.
“Cardoso is only 23 but you can see there is a real tidy player in there. Dalcio flitted in and out of proceedings but he has a really nice touch and looked handy enough.
“I actually got in behind Cardoso a couple of times and really should have scored. I know Coleraine lost 5-0 but to tell you the truth 5-3 would have been a more accurate reflection.
“We created some very good opportunities to score.
“I ran though one-on-one and tried a wee dink but clipped the bar and the ball went over the top. I am sure it was worth a point in Gaelic football!
“Coleraine would now love to land Rangers in the Europa League qualifiers. That would be our dream draw.
“I’m a massive Celtic fan but a lot of our players, board members and supporters are all Rangers fans.
“I have great craic with them and they would love a tie against Rangers.
“It would be amazing for everybody at Coleraine if we got the chance to play them again.
“I hope the Europa League draw is kind to us and we get our wish.
“I definitely wouldn’t miss if I ran clean through at Ibrox – I wouldn’t be able to contain myself !
“All my mates are Celtic supporters and I’m sure they’d be in the crowd.
“You never know if I played well in game of that magnitude then the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers might even give me a call.”
However, Bradley revealed that it was some of the Light Blues’ tried and tested stars who really caught the eye during the runout.
The Irishman was impressed by the likes of Barrie McKay, Joe Dodoo and Josh Windass as well as the returning Niko Kranjcar. But he still has doubts over the Croatian midfielder’s fitness following his injury lay-off.
Bradley said: “Pedro Caixinha shaped Rangers up in a 4-5-1 formation with Kenny Miller playing out wide right.
“Assistant coach Helder Baptista was the most animated member of the Rangers management.
“Baptista was the one doing all the shouting and instructing the players on the park.
“Caixinha never really opened his mouth and he just seemed to take it all in his stride.
“You never heard Caixinha once and he never left his seat all afternoon until the end when he shook everybody by the hand and wished us good luck for the season.
“Caixinha scrutinised everything intently and he appeared to be taking mental notes of everything.
“As for the game I liked the look of McKay as he is just different class and a real footballer.
“You know Barrie is a quality player and he always had time on the ball and just drifted past players with ease.
“At times he looks a bit disinterested but then he comes alive.
“He was the real standout in the Rangers team.
“Kranjcar also played and he while he looks great on the ball he still doesn’t look as if he is 100 per cent fit to me.
“He is just coming back from a bad cruciate ligament injury though. Kranjcar still possesses a great first touch and can spread the ball around well. “He looks decent when he has time to do that but it won’t be so easy if Scott Brown is nipping away at your ankles. “Windass was a player I liked and he looked very good. Dodoo was another one who was on really good form during the game. “Thursday was a great day for everybody at the club. It was brilliant to play against Rangers. “We are a part-time team and we gave a decent account of ourselves and it was good to go head to head with a strong side. “Now we are all just hoping and praying that Coleraine pull Rangers out of the hat in Monday’s Europa League qualifying draw. “That would be great as we would all love another journey across to Glasgow this season.”