TAVERNIER SETS TONE FOR IBROX TRIUMPH
Captain Fantastic shows the way to Seville for Gio’s fearless heroes
ANIGHT of so many compelling emotions ended with an ear-splitting surge of pure, unadulterated joy. The power in its release almost felt sufficient to lift Ibrox from its foundations and deliver all of its inhabitants across the 1,200 miles to Seville.
Other methods of transport will have to be found, of course. And they will be. Every conceivable one available. Throughout Andalusia, a light blue invasion is coming. It will be staged by Rangers supporters believing history will be theirs to witness. And, after this truly epic triumph, who can doubt that faith?
On Wednesday, Giovanni van Bronckhorst spoke about a chance for his team to join the elite. Well, they are there now. Just the fifth team in this club’s story to reach a European final.
How richly they deserved it. And what an astonishing feat it is. Tactically perfect last night, Van Bronckhorst has performed alchemy on his resources and been rewarded with a set of performances that have outstripped every expectation.
This RB Leipzig squad cost in excess of £200million to assemble but they don’t own a fraction of the heart and character present at
How richly they deserved this. What an astonishing feat it was
Rangers. Van Bronckhorst described their spirit as the best he’s ever encountered in management. Here was another thrilling vindication of his claim.
Without the services of his two top strikers, Van Bronckhorst saw preferred replacement Joe Aribo pole-axed by a free-kick to force his substitution before half-time. Still, though, the Ibrox side endured. It was heroic stuff.
On a night for the ages, the biggest game this stadium has seen for 50 years, Rangers dug deep and delivered. They went two goals up, lost one, but simply refused to relinquish their grip on a ticket to Seville. Or a place in Ibrox folklore. That’s theirs to keep, regardless of what happens on May 18.
But the promise of even more is clear. After defeating secondplaced Borussia Dortmund and fifth-placed Leipzig, why shouldn’t 11th-placed Eintracht Frankfurt become Rangers next and most significant Bundesliga victims?
West Ham United, vanquished in Germany, would offer some words of caution. Last night, though, sheer jubilation was the only thing Ibrox was interested in hosting. Rightly so.
Before the bedlam began, there was a moment of silence as Jimmy Bell was remembered following his sudden passing on Tuesday.
Earlier, a montage of the veteran kitman’s three decades with the club had been shown on the video screens to sustained applause. ‘Doing it for Jimmy’ added to the multitude of motivations Rangers could draw upon.
Their players and staff paid solemn tribute to Bell yesterday morning. With the whole squad lined up in club suits and ties, wreaths of red, white and blue flowers were laid below the statue of John Greig in front of the Bill Struth Main Stand. One of them contained a handwritten message from captain James Tavernier.
‘The beating heart and soul of our club. You will always be remembered. You will always be with us. Rest in peace my friend.’ Tavernier had pledged to make Bell proud in the biggest game of his Rangers’ career. Those words were fulfilled inside 18 minutes as he slammed home a drilled delivery from Ryan Kent.
Incredibly, it made this all-action right-back the top scorer in the Europa League. Six of his seven goals have come in knockout ties at Ibrox. A simply phenomenal contribution.
Now there was real belief amid the delirium. For Rangers fans of a superstitious persuasion, it felt like confirmation of the omens.
In the club’s 150th year, this season also marks a half-century since the 1972 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph in Barcelona.
German opposition was defeated in the semi-finals back then. And yesterday just happened to be the 69th birthday of Derek Parlane, who famously scored the clinching goal against Bayern Munich after being promoted to the starting line-up as an 18-year-old — primarily to conduct a successful man-marking job on Franz Roth.
Roth’s nickname? The Bull. Given Bayern traditional colours — albeit they were in white on that famous evening at Ibrox — Parlane’s quelling of a red Bull could have been highlighted as another auspicious factor.
Only if you were of such a mind, of course. Perhaps this was all straying into the territory of those who examine their horoscope before deciding what to have for dinner. In truth, Rangers needed their stars to align on the pitch. Not in the cosmos.
Kemar Roofe wasn’t there after failing to recover from a knee issue, but his absence from the squad was rapidly being forgotten.
When Glen Kamara — that least free-scoring of midfielders — swept in a second on 24 minutes, we were back to the symmetry of history. In 1972, Rangers were two up on Bayern after 23 minutes. No one felt like quibbling over 60 seconds.
Maintaining a decisive advantage was never going to be easy. Especially with three of five defenders on a yellow card by the interval. First it was Connor Goldson. Then Calvin Bassey. Then Borna Barisic. Portuguese referee Artur Dias wasn’t winning many friends in blue.
Starting on the right of three centre-backs, John Lundstram was still free of any disciplinary worries. How vital his adaptability has been throughout this whole adventure.
It’s difficult to remember now, but Lundstram was sent off on a villainous first European appearance at Ibrox — against Alashkert last August. The transformation in his fortunes since has been stunning. He is now unquestionably a hero.
Just when Rangers needed him most, Lundstram donned his cape and fired home the goal that overcame Christopher Nkunku’s response for Leipzig. Like every other star in blue, the acclaim was his to savour. They will never forget this night.