DON’T HURT US
Souness urges Rangers fans to behave in Seville
GRAEME SOUNESS has pleaded with Rangers fans to behave themselves in Seville this week — or risk damaging the club’s reputation for a ‘long, long time’.
The Ibrox legend (right) was addressing supporters in a video message which was posted on the club’s official media channels yesterday afternoon.
It is estimated that almost 100,000 Rangers fans will make the journey to Seville ahead of Wednesday night’s Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
It will be the club’s first appearance in a major European final since they reached the final of the same competition back in 2008. Beaten 2-0 on that occasion by Zenit Saint Petersburg, the match was overshadowed by the events which saw Rangers fans rioting and causing mayhem in Manchester city centre.
Although not referencing that match specifically, the message from Souness is clearly intended
to help avoid a repeat scenario. ‘This is a message for everyone going to Seville,’ he said. ‘Go there, have a super time, support your team.
‘Our team has done incredibly well in getting there. When you think of the journey we’ve been on for the last 10 years, to now be playing in a serious European final. It’s a fantastic achievement.
‘They (the players) have done their bit. Now it’s your turn. You have to turn up there and behave yourselves.
‘Have a party, but make sure you behave yourselves. You’re going there as an ambassador for our great football club.
‘You must go there and behave, otherwise we’ll get all the trashy headlines which would damage us for a long, long time.
‘Please go there and behave yourselves. Have a super time.’
Meanwhile, Ibrox defender Calvin Bassey is confident Rangers won’t be undone by the absence of the Ibrox factor on Wednesday.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have impressed when playing in front of their 50,000-strong home support through the knockout stages, never more so than in a stunning semi-final victory over RB Leipzig.
Rangers fans only have an official allocation of 9,500 tickets for the final but Bassey (below) believes those lucky enough to actually get inside the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium will still generate huge noise.
He insists the Ibrox players are fully motivated both to repay that backing and honour the memory of late kitman Jimmy Bell by bringing home the trophy.
‘We’ve seen that Ibrox is not an easy place to come to,’ said Bassey.
‘But I know the 9,000 in there will be screaming for the 50,000 or 60,000 that can’t be there.
‘It won’t be any different for us. For us, it’s just about going there and getting the job done.
‘Obviously it’s a bit harder when you don’t have your full home support but we’ve got a purpose to do it for them and to do it for Jimmy as well.
‘You can ask all the boys, he played a massive part at this club. He played a massive part to all us boys individually.’
Bassey has been caught up in the incredible demand for tickets, with his allocation not yet sufficient to cover those closest to him.
Asked about the huge number of supporters heading to Spain, he said: ‘Ah, I’ve heard some crazy stories. I’m still trying to sort out my family as well.
‘It’s been carnage. People have been saying: “Just get in suitcases!” ‘Yeah, it’s mad. I know there’s going to be an amazing support behind us, as there always is.
‘Whether that’s in the stadium or not, yeah it will be rocking. It will be good.’
Bassey has been a breakthrough star of this campaign. Pitched into a central defensive role for Van
Bronckhorst’s debut game in charge against Sparta Prague in November, the 22-year-old has grown in stature with each passing appearance.
‘It’s been amazing,’ he said. ‘Obviously being one of the younger boys, the whole thing has just been amazing.
‘It’s been an unbelievable experience and I’m just trying to take it all in. But at the same time I remember I’ve got a job to do.
‘The boys around me keep me so calm and so grounded, so level-headed, to make sure we take each game as it comes and keep our focus on the bigger picture.
‘I’m obviously excited for the occasion. There’s no shying away. It’s a massive day for the club and for us. And it’s a massive opportunity to make history.
‘For us, it was never about thinking too far ahead. It’s been about taking each game as it’s comes, then building from that.
‘We’ve had games where we’ve looked like we’re out — 1-0 against Braga, 1-0 down against Leipzig. But we just kept pushing through.
‘So for us it’s just been about taking each game as it comes. Now it’s just amazing to be here in the final.’
The meeting with Frankfurt will be Rangers’ 64th game of a gruelling season but Van Bronckhorst’s side have appeared to grow stronger over the past month. ‘Yeah, you could say so,’ agreed Bassey. ‘We feel good as a team fitness-wise.
‘The boys work hard every single day, from every single training session starting back in pre-season.
‘We’re seeing the benefits now even this late in the season when we’re still able to reach high numbers off the ball.’ The former Leicester City youngster is also effusive about Van Bronckhorst’s methods, adding: ‘Us being in this stage of a major European tournament is unbelievable really.
‘The style of play, you can see the obvious difference he’s made. We feel solid, we look solid and we’re just happy to be here.’
In seeing off Borussia Dortmund and Leipzig, Rangers have already defeated two German sides sitting well above Frankfurt in the Bundesliga table.
‘For us it doesn’t change anything,’ insisted Bassey. ‘We know they’re a good team. They wouldn’t be in the final of the Europa League if they weren’t a good team.
‘We’re preparing well for them. We’re not expecting anything less than what Dortmund or Leipzig gave us.’
Frankfurt are also making their own preparations for the Ibrox club, with Jens Petter Hauge revealing his brother — Hibs kid Runar Hauge — has given him the lowdown.
Hauge, who is on loan from AC Milan, said: ‘Runar said they are a strong team with a lot of fighters. They also have amazing fans and we know it will be a tough game with a lot of emotions.
‘Rangers are like us, they run and fight for each other. It will be an exciting game.’