I PREDICTED BASSEY REUNION, CLAIMS GIO

GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST has revealed how he told Calvin Bassey they were destined for a Champions League reunion. Defender Bassey made a club record £20million move from Rangers to Ajax last month but visited his old team-mates in the Netherlands prior to their play-off win over PSV Eindhoven. Antonio Colak’s goal sealed a place among the European elite for the first time in 12 years, with Rangers then drawn in Group A alongside Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli. Van Bronckhorst predicted an Ibrox return for Bassey when they met and is sure the 22-year-old will be given a positive reception — initially — when he comes to Glasgow with his new club. ‘I spoke with Calvin on Tuesday night,’ said the Rangers manager. ‘It was really good seeing him. I have a lot of contact with him by text. ‘Of course, we talked about the game against PSV and how we would try to be in the group stage. I told him that if we went through we would play against each other. ‘It will be strange for him because he just left. He wanted to compete in the Champions League with Ajax and now he will be back at Ibrox. ‘I am sure the reception he will get at the start will be very warm. But when the whistle goes, I think the first feeling he will have is about playing at Ibrox with the atmosphere as an opponent. I think that will feel really weird for him as well. ‘But I love Calvin, he is such a great guy, such a great player. He is going to do well for Ajax. Hopefully a bit less in the two games that we play against them, but it will be nice to see him again.’ Van Bronckhorst is thrilled by the high-profile group as he prepares to manage in the Champions League for a second time, having previously done so with Feyenoord. ‘We are happy with the draw because we are going to play some great games against tough opponents,’ he said. ‘Of course playing against Liverpool for the first time is fantastic, both home and away. I think it will be very good to play against one of the best sides in Europe. For me, going back to Holland again and playing against Ajax means a lot of familiar faces in the team but also in the staff and on the board so it will be good to go back to the (Johan Cruyff) Arena and play them as well at Ibrox.’