UNION KNOW MATONDO WILL BE THREAT

UNION SAINT-GILLOISE coach Karel Geraerts is wary of the threat posed by Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo in tonight’s Champions League qualifier. Ibrox boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst yesterday declared Matondo fit to travel to Belgium after he missed Saturday’s win over Livingston with a hamstring issue. A £2.5million summer signing from Schalke, the Wales international (right) shone during a loan spell with Cercle Brugge last season and scored against Union in the Jupiler Pro League. ‘Rangers have a lot of good players,’ said Geraerts. ‘We’ve analysed them and they are a modern football team. ‘It’s not like 20 years ago when it was long balls and fighting football. No, this is really a team who plays from behind, with good movements and combinations. ‘They have a lot of speed with players who go forward. One of the players we know well is Matondo. ‘He played here in Belgium for Cercle Brugge. He was a good player and made a very good impression last year when he played against us. ‘So Rangers are able to take the best players out of the Belgian league and take them to Glasgow. ‘The top Belgian clubs weren’t able to keep them in Belgium, so that means Rangers have a lot of possibilities.’ Geraerts admits his side are underdogs but cautions against anyone writing them off. ‘I think it’s very normal that Rangers, for these two games, are the favourites,’ he continued. ‘They have more than us when you talk about budget, stadium, history. They’re a big team, so it’s up to them to handle that situation. ‘For us tomorrow, we will go on the field playing with our qualities, being proud to make a good game — but showing all our respect to Rangers. ‘Once we go on that field, and I’ve said this to my players from the start of pre-season, no matter if it’s a friendly game or a Champions League qualifier, I want us to go out to win the game. ‘Tomorrow, it will be 11 v 11 and that’s the message I’ve given to my players.’ Geraerts, who stepped up from assistant after Felice Mazzu left for Anderlecht this summer, also believes the input of ex-Celtic goalkeeper Logan Bailly could be invaluable. Bailly, who made five appearances for the Parkhead club between 2015 and 2017, is now goalkeeping coach at Union. ‘Logan has been able to tell us about Scottish football and Rangers,’ added Geraerts. ‘He spent a long time with Celtic and told us a lot about the derby. It’s a big game with a big ambiance. ‘He could only say positive things about that period. It’s good for us to have someone in our dressing room who knows how it is with Rangers. ‘We also had a good player from Belgium, Thomas Buffel, who played in Scotland, so there’s no mysteries. ‘I’ve spoken to Thomas. He said they are a really good team with a big crowd and big names, so we will show them a lot of respect.’