FIL’S A £3M BARGAIN
RANGERS...4 MARSEILLE...0
STEVEN GERRARD last night hailed the capture of £3million Sweden defender Filip Helander as a bargain buy.
And the Rangers boss urged the giant stopper to become one of his leaders on the park and in the
DANIEL CANDEIAS provided the perfect response to his omission from Rangers’ Europa League squad by grabbing a fine first-half double as Steven Gerrard’s men cruised to victory over Marseille.
The Portuguese winger struck in the 16th and 42nd minutes before going off at the break and Rangers added to their tally afterwards through goals from Connor Goldson and Jermain Defoe to seal a comfortable win.
Marseille went through the motions for much of the match but Candeias played as if he had a point to prove after being left out of the tie with St Joseph’s and Gerrard would have been delighted with his attitude and that of his team.
A lot of water has flown under plenty of bridges since the halcyon days of 1992-93 when these two giants were jousting at the top of the European scene but yesterday’s clash was still important for the Rangers boss – and certainly a step up in class of opposition from anything else they’ve faced this summer.
Marseille were good enough to finish fifth in the French top flight last term and were captained by Dimitri Payet.
Gerrard gave Alfredo Morelos his first start in this, their third outing, while new boys Joe Aribo, Jordan Jones and George Edmundson were also in the line-up.
There was no place for latest arrival Filip Helander but the Swede – who was introduced to fans at the interval – would have been impressed with the manner in which his new team went about their business in the early stages.
Gerrard’s men took the lead the 17th minute. Aribo pressed Florian Thauvin high up the pitch, robbed the French attacker and fed Morelos who quickly moved the ball wide to Candeias. He took a touch before lashing an unstoppable drive high past keeper Steve Mandanda to give his team a deserved lead.
But the visitors began edging their way into the contest, giving the GoldsonEdmundson partnership something to think about. Both looked comfortable enough, although a Payet shot from the edge of the area in the 36th minute FROM BACK PAGE dressing room. Helander watched from the stand and was introduced to the fans at half-time in yesterday’s romp over Marseille.
Gerrard said: “To have someone of his calibre, a Swedish international with was a bit too close for the 25,000 home fans’ comfort.
Rangers had taken their foot slightly off the pedal but burst forward a couple of minutes later and Jones must have felt he’d scored his first goal for the club, swivelling to meet a Ryan Jack cross on the volley only for Mandanda to make a good save to his right.
The No.1 had no chance, however, three minutes from the break when Candeias notched his second of the afternoon.
Jack delivered a superb clipped pass over the top of the retreating defence for the winger to cut in and control on his left foot before slamming a right-footed drive into the net.
Gerrard made five changes at the break – Wes Foderingham for Allan McGregor, Niko Katic replacing Edmundson, Greg Docherty on for Steven Davis, Sheyi Ojo for Candeias and Jermain Defoe coming on for Morelos.
Defoe brought a superb save out of Mandanda within a couple of minutes from close range.
The Ibrox side added a third in the 62nd minute. Jones swung over a corner from the left, Katic outjumped the defence to power a downward header that was saved by the keeper only for Goldson to tap home the loose ball.
The contest was over and Gerrard made another raft of changes with Andy Halliday replacing Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara for Jack, Matt Polster for Aribo and Jamie Murphy marking his return to first team action by replacing Jones.
Docherty almost added a fourth and Katic should have done with a free header at the far post before Defoe showed him how it should be done with a diving closerange header from Ojo’s right-wing cross.
Gerrard then brought on youngsters Lewis Mayo and Jamie Barjonas but the contest – such as it had been – was over.
McGregor (Foderingham 45); Tavernier (Barjonas 75), Goldson (Mayo 82), Edmundson (Katic 45), Barisic (Halliday 64); Jack (Kamara 64), Davis (Docherty 45), Aribo (Polster 64); Candeias (Ojo 45), Morelos (Defoe 45), Jones (Murphy 64).
RANGERS:
his height and profile, ticks a lot of the boxes we were looking for. We’re relieved to get it over the line and now our centre-back positions are set for what will hopefully be a 60-game season.
“He naturally gives us balance as a left-footer. That enables us to play with a two or with a back three. He will be able to defend our box and be a threat at set-pieces.
“He is comfortable on the ball. He’s a good man, he’s a leader. We need more voices out there if we want to challenge for the top