LOGIC WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR IN OLD FIRM WORLD
IN A rational footballing city Giovanni van Bronckhorst would play the kids against Celtic and no one would care. For Rangers, the Europa League final is what matters now. The title a forlorn prospect, Thursday’s second leg against RB Leipzig should be the priority. For that reason alone Parkhead should be a place to throw in Alex Lowry and Leon King. An opportunity for Van Bronckhorst to hand them a first-team experience they would never get from playing three seasons in the Lowland League. There’s nothing normal about the footballing landscape in Glasgow, of course. Managers of Celtic and Rangers can’t be seen to concede an inch to their bitter rivals, let alone throw in the towel in the final weeks of a title race. The best option, then, is a halfway house. Resting key men like Joe Aribo, Ryan Kent and John Lundstram and fielding Fashion Sakala, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield instead. Striking the balance between fielding a competitive team and handing the title to Celtic on a plate is tricky. It’s not impossible. Thursday’s first leg in Leipzig ended in a narrow defeat which keeps hopes of the Europa League final alive and well. The tie isn’t done yet. The explosive talent of Christopher Nkunku seems unlikely to be as wasteful in front of goal a second time. Rangers need to come out and have a go and Leipzig will fancy their chances of picking them off. With a fervent home crowd behind them at Ibrox, however, Scotland’s champions have a real opportunity to reach Seville on May 18. Six points and 19 goals behind Celtic, the league looks significantly less promising. For Van Bronckhorst it seems logical to rest key players tomorrow and keep something back for Thursday. The trouble with that is obvious. In Glasgow logic has never had the slightest influence on anything.