The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bassey gets excited by chance of Seville glory
Calvin Bassey is well aware of the magnitude of Rangers’ Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville on Wednesday.
The Light Blues are in their first European final in 14 years and are looking to win their first piece of continental silverware since the 1972 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Bassey recalled some tricky moments during this season’s thrilling cup run as he looked forward to Spain but knows what victory over the Bundesliga outfit will mean.
The 22-year-old Nigeria defender said: “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 for us 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.
“Now it’s just amazing to be in the final.”
Rangers have already beaten Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on the way to the final and both sides finished above Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
However, Bassey said: “For us it doesn’t change anything. 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 for anything less than what Dortmund or Leipzig gave us.”
Thousands of Gers fans will travel to Seville, many without tickets, and Bassey has heard some “crazy stories” about how they are getting there.
He said: “I’m still trying to sort out my family as well. It’s been carnage. People have been saying, ‘get in suitcases’ and stuff like that.
“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.”
Meanwhile a muchchanged Rangers side signed off their cinch Premiership campaign with a 3-1 win away to Scottish Cup final opponents Hearts.
Ibrox manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested all his big guns ahead of the Europa League final.
Hearts boss Robbie Neilson, in contrast, gave game time to all of those expected to feature in the final and the move appeared to backfire as topscorer Liam Boyce limped off with a groin injury in the first half.
Peter Haring gave Hearts the lead, but goals from Cedric Itten and Alex Lowry turned the game around before half-time and debutant Cole McKinnon wrapped up victory for Rangers late on.
Meanwhile Robbie Neilson has declared Craig Halkett and John Souttar to be realistic options for the Scottish Cup final.
Souttar had been sidelined since the start of March with an ankle issue, while Halkett was carried off in the semi-final win over Hibernian with a similar injury.
Souttar came on for the last 22 minutes against Rangers, while Halkett joined him for the closing 15 minutes