SURELY BASSEY
Dortmund was sensational and my phone is blowing up but we’ve got to focus on three points at Tannadice tomorrow says Calvin
CALVIN BASSEY insists all eyes are firmly on Dundee United despite Rangers sending shockwaves through European football with a colossal win over Dortmund.
The Light Blues defender believes there is no time to dwell on one of the club’s finest nights on the continent.
The exploits of Gio van Bronckhorst’s side against Borussia in Germany give way to a Premiership test tomorrow at Tannadice.
A 4-2 demolition of the Bundesliga giants brought superlatives for their first-leg display, setting up a home tie with real hope of booking a last-16 Europa League spot.
But Bassey is adamant it is a mark of the progress of his club that they’ll file the result away as a job done and begin preparations for a trip to Tayside.
He said: “Obviously a great night and a great feeling. We did amazing as a team.
“We enjoyed it and the next game comes thick and fast.
“You always want to be involved in the biggest games. For us, every game is a big game,
“I know it’s a cliche but it’s true because playing for a team like Rangers, you can’t accept anything less than three points.
“Thursday was an amazing night in a big competition and I’m just happy we delivered.
“We’re focused on Sunday and making sure we get three points then.”
The former Leicester utility man excelled against Dortmund as he managed to play a huge part in taming talents such as Marco Reus, Donyell Malen, Julian Brandt and Jude Bellingham.
But Bassey is adamant a collective belief within the Rangers side was based on trust in their team-mates, leading by example and a desire they can cut it against the very best.
He said: “The game plan was to go out there and be brave, trust in ourselves – and we showed that.
“We were brave in our press, we were high. We showed we can compete on a big stage.
“If me and Connor Goldson are brave, it goes throughout the team and everyone then wants to play. I just want to play.
“Every game I want to be involved, wherever I play.
“At centre-back you need more communication and it sort of starts with you on the ball.
“If you can beat the first press, you’ve got the responsibility of setting the tone for the team in terms of beating the press and being brave.
“Left-back is more physically demanding – you’re up and down to attack and defend. I just enjoy playing and want to play.”
Bassey backed up boss van Bronckhorst’s claim it’s only halftime in their head-to-head as well as the danger of taking anything for granted against the Germans for a tie that he insists still hangs in the balance ahead of Thursday’s second leg.
The 22-year-old has also revealed his mobile phone has been constantly pinging with positive messages and plaudits.
He said: “Your phone is going to be blowing up when you’re playing Dortmund, even before we played them. Everyone has just congratulated me.
“We’re only halfway there, we’ve got another 90 minutes and I’m sure they’ll come out all guns blazing and give it everything at Ibrox.
“We enjoyed it and now it’s back to working hard and trying to maintain our form.”
Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland was reduced to a seat in the stand at Westfalenstadion.
He may well be part of the Dortmund contingent flying in from Germany after missing the first leg and it’s a prospect Bassey insists he’ll relish.
He said: “Of course, you always want to test yourself against the best. Obviously he is one of the best strikers in the world. You want to see how you do against these sorts of players.
“We’ve got the game on Sunday and that’s our focus for now – get three points and take our form into Sunday.”
Bassey’s upturn in fortunes has banished some indifferent displays since his arrival in Glasgow 18 months ago and he believes it’s all about digging in through moments of adversity.
He added: “It’s just moments, you’ll always have moments in a game where things aren’t going right and it’s about how you deal with them.
“You’re always going to make mistakes but it’s how you deal with them and move on.
“If you make a mistake in the fifth minute you still have 85 to redeem yourself.
“It’s about trying to block that out, persevere and work hard. When you get those moments when you might be on the edge or under the cosh, it’s about coming through it stronger and we did that in Dortmund.
“We had our moments in the second half. Even though it was 3-1, they were on us.
“But we handled that well. I know we conceded again but we scored again.”
You will always make mistakes. If you make one in the fifth minute you still have 85 to redeem yourself CALVIN BASSEY ON HIS POSITIVE OUTLOOK WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESSURES OF PLAYING FOR RANGERS