‘HAMMERS AND BARCA MIX MAKES RANGERS FAVOURITES’

EINTRACHT Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner believes Rangers are a mix of Barcelona and West Ham — and should be considered favourites for the Europa League final. The Bundesliga side saw off the Catalan and London clubs on their unbeaten 12-game path towards tonight’s showdown in Seville. Glasner claims Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men possess traits of both teams and expects a hugely tough challenge in pursuit of Frankfurt’s first European trophy in 42 years.

At yesterday’s pre-match media conference, the Austrian responded to a German journalist who suggested Barcelona and West Ham were better teams than Rangers’ scalps Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. ‘You can’t make these sorts of calculations,’ he said. ‘If you win against the second and fourth of the Bundesliga, then you are the favourite. We are 11th in the Bundesliga, so maybe that is the calculation. But it doesn’t matter. ‘Both teams deserve to play in the final. We have analysed them and they are a mixture of West Ham and Barcelona. You can see the Dutch influence in the way they play and their little triangles but they also have the British mentality. ‘They play very fast football so this is how they score a lot of goals. Like West Ham, they can cross the ball very quickly. They scored like that against Braga and Leipzig.’ Frankfurt also defeated Real Betis during the knockout rounds, so Glasner feels comfortable returning to Spain for the biggest game of his coaching career. ‘I will be back here for my vacation, so I like this country,’ he smiled. ‘We have won the first two good games and we come here with a good feeling. Spain is a place with fantastic stadiums and great pitches. Everything is perfect for us.’ Frankfurt trained at their usual base before flying to Seville yesterday afternoon. ‘We are not doing anything secret in training at home,’ insisted

Glasner. ‘I think we are relaxed. Now I’m trying to think what I will say to the players before the match. But we have spent so many hours together maybe they don’t need anything from me.’ Colombian striker Rafa Borre expressed his sadness that compatriot Alfredo Morelos won’t be lining up for Rangers after a thigh injury ended his season. ‘I’ve been able to speak to Alfredo,’ said Borre. ‘It’s a shame he can’t be involved in the final. I know he’s a very important player for Rangers.’