Celts squeak into knockouts despite Salzburg slip-up... ...but it’s good night Vienna as Gers crash out
RANGERS
EVERY cup elimination leads to an inquest and Rangers have much to ponder after their Europa League adventure came to an end with defeat to Rapid Vienna.
It was not this game on its own that saw Steven Gerrard’s charges knocked out and Rangers must surely nurse a sense of regret about the failure to get out of the group and into the last 32.
The failure to beat bottom club Spartak Moscow home and away – they only secured one point against the Russians – was pivotal to their ultimate exit from continental competition this year. Rapid, in contrast, took six points from Spartak.
At least on the plus side Rangers have the consolation of restoring some of their pride after the shameful first qualifying defeat to Luxembourg minnows Progres Niederkorn last season.
That was a result that shook Scottish football but in 14 games this season in Europe, Rangers have only suffered two defeats and did their bit to boost the coefficient. That will be small consolation right now to the Ibrox support, 10,000 of who followed on to Vienna, or the management team who will all be thinking about what might have been.
Sadly for Rangers, history did not repeat itself. In 1964 they staged one of their most memorable Euro victories with a 2-0 win against Rapid in Vienna. Sadly it was blighted when legend Jim Baxter suffered a broken leg in the last minute and with it went their chances of even lifting the European Cup. Something that many observers believed they were capable of that season.
1 Rare mistake
Former Celtic and Scotland manager Gordon Strachan claimed Rangers was too big a club for some of Steven Gerrard’s summer recruits to handle but that is not an accusation that can be levelled at Allan McGregor. The Ibrox No 1 was no stranger to the club and has made a triumphant return. No-one has done more to push Rangers to the brink of the last 32 of the Europa League. The Scotland international (left) has pulled off countless excellent saves during their 14-game run in Europe this season. He has
Allan McGregor been the foundation that has taken them so far.
In Vienna, however, it all went wrong as his poor clearance went straight to a Rapid player and the Austrians punished McGregor with a slick attacking move that dissected Rangers’ defence, who were unable to bail out the keeper who has rescued them time and again in this campaign, and was finished off by Dejan Ljubicic to end their European dream.
2 Morelos kept his cool
It has not taken a lot for the red mist to descend over Alfredo Morelos this season, as three sendings-off would testify. Clearly the Rapid defenders had done their homework on the Columbian as they seemed to take it in turns to clatter into him.
Morelos, however, did not take the bait as he kept his cool and his emotions in check.
But he is clearly a player who needs the fire burning in his belly, maybe that gives him the impetus to pounce in the penalty box and while he had nice play outside of the box, he was not a threat inside it as none of the chances fell for the 17-goal hitman as Rangers drew a frustrating blank.
3 Teenage kicks from Glenn Middleton
Graeme Murty left the current Rangers management team a gem in the shape of teenage wide-man Glenn Middleton. Murty used his know-how of Norwich City to snap up the 18-year-old in the transfer window last January and he has blossomed under the guidance of Steven Gerrard.