CRUELLA SEVILLE
It’s been mostly pain in Spain but Ross says Gers can test their level
Maurice Ross admits history shows the rain in Spain falls mainly on Rangers whenever his old side embark on Mediterranean travel.
But the former Ibrox defender insists there’s no time like the present to buck that trend by racking up a first win in the country.
BULLET Rest Rangers face Real Betis in
of caption in a Europa League Group C
here thanks decider on very Thursday much night in a three-way please last-day shoot-out that includes Sparta Prague.
Three points in Seville will propel the Light Blues directly into the last 16 of Europe’s second-tier competition.
Another scenario could see Philippe Clement’s side finish second to line-up a play- off against a thi rd- placed Champions League side before they can join the group winners in that last-16 phase.
Third spot wi l l book a play-off with a second-placed Conference League side in order to book their spot in that competition.
It’s a complex series of permutations but Ross also believes the test against Betis will provide a marker of where Rangers now are.
He said: “The best result Rangers have had against
Spanish sides since the turn of the century has been a draw – that tells you how difficult it will be in Seville.
“Barcelona, Osasuna, Villarreal and Valencia – the list is quite long and they haven’t won in Spain so this is a huge task.
“It is what it is and the reality is that this is the level that Rangers need to be at.
“Thursday night will be a litmus test to see where we are actually at.
“If Rangers go to Betis and get a win that has to be deemed a phenomenal result.
“Especial ly when you consider the many Rangers teams of the past that haven’t managed to do that on Spanish soil – and there were some very good teams too.”
Ross is convinced Clement wi l l resist any notion of throwing caution to the wind as Rangers return to the city where they lost the 2022 Europa League Final.
He has backed the Belgian to hedge his bets by adopting a cautious approach.
Ross said: “I think you will see a change in how Clement approaches this game. I think he will be pragmatic.
“I don’t want to hark back to the good old days but I would like to see a 4- 5-1 formation. Clement will be more defensively minded in his approach and play with wide players who are more defensively minded.
“It will be about trying to stay in the game for as long as possible in the hope Rangers can get a few set-plays or if someone can come up with that wee bit of magic which lands a result.
“If I was a betting man then I think I’d be looking for a draw as that would sti l l represent a decent result.
“We will see how they cope and time will tell...
“But there are a lot of predictions made in football and many are made on romance rather than a pragmatic approach.
“It will be a challenge that will show where Rangers are as a club.”
Clement has been a convincing figure in his first few months at Ibrox.
Ross is already a big fan of the Belgian who makes sure he engages his brain before he speaks.
He said: “I like Clement’s style and the way he talks.
“He comes across as a very intelligent man and everything he says seems sensible and pragmatic. When he speaks he goes on the tangibles and there is no fluff or bluff.
“He makes statements and uses statistics that you can feel and touch.
“It’s not just bland comments about why cer tain players are selected – he expands and explains that it’s because of X, Y or Z.
“There’s a clear intellect behind his reasoning and that comes across when he talks.
“And let ’s be honest – he’s a man with real presence. So far
It’s a litmus test of where Rangers are at – if they win it will be a phenomenal result
he is certainly managing the club well.
“Given a bit of time and a few transfer windows, he will get rid of a lot of the current players and lay down his own mark on what he needs.
“I like the way he handles himself and he looks like a Rangers manager.”
The Rangers line- up in Sevi l le may see a single striker leading the line and Ross has pinpointed who he’d like to see in that solo role.
He said: “There’s a decent shout for Abdallah Sima to start in attack.
“He has the pace and ability to stretch the game and he is scoring goals.
“Rangers are away from home and will be doing a lot of defending.
“But I think Rangers still need more runners from midfield, players penetrating rather than coming inside which happens a lot.
“I also think Todd Cantwell has to start in the No.10 role and look to run beyond the game.
“He needs to be harrying players and pressing as well as working hard to get on the ball as when he does that he can be effective.
“If he wants to drop deep and try to be the playmaker then that’s a flawed way for him to play this game.”