Winger warns Rangers of underdogs’ bite Sporting prospect
Kent says Ibrox club are taking nothing for granted ahead of Red Imps qualifier
THE fact that Rangers are the overwhelming favourites to beat part-time Gibraltarian minnows Lincoln Red Imps will have nothing to do with the unease that Ryan Kent will feel before kick-off in the Victoria Stadium on Thursday night.
Kent upset many of the Ibrox club’s supporters last season when he argued that he and his team-mates performed better in the Europa League than they did in the Premiership because they were the underdogs.
His statement was made after he had scored a sublime winner against Braga in Portugal to secure a place in the last 16 – and the Glasgow outfit had fallen 12 points behind Celtic in the title race.
It was seen by some as an indication that Steven Gerrard’s players lacked the mental fortitude required to cope with the demands on them on the home front and challenge their city rivals for the top-flight trophy.
Kent clarified his remarks last week as he looked ahead to the second-round match against a side who recorded an improbable win over the Parkhead club in a Champions League qualifier in 2016.
“To be honest, I wasn’t aware that anyone was angered by those comments,” he said. “I would still say it is a very difficult competition and there isn’t as much expectation to do well as there is domestically.”
Being expected to triumph, and triumph comfortably, against the Red Imps and progress, though, isn’t what is making Kent, who picked up the Premiership Player of the Month award for August on Friday, apprehensive.
The player who has attracted interest from Premier League new boys Leeds United in recent weeks knows that matches against lesser opposition can be every bit as treacherous as those against famous foes.
He stressed that he will be taking the match every bit as seriously as the encounters with Legia Warsaw, Feyenoord, Porto, Young Boys, Braga and Bayer Leverkusen last term.
“In a sense this could be the most difficult part of the competition,” he said. “You can get caught out being complacent against teams where you think you should definitely be winning. We won’t overlook any team that we come across in the competition, especially at this stage.
“We are well aware of the task ahead of us to get to the group stages from this stage of the competition. We have been there before and we are definitely looking to do it again. We won’t be complacent, we won’t underestimate any team that we come across, we will give 100 per cent in every game until the group stages. We will treat every game like it’s the same – whether it’s one of the first qualifying rounds on Thursday or whether it is someone like Porto.
“We know what it takes and we will go into the game with a lot of confidence on the back of last season’s run in the Europa League and hopefully get another good run this year.”
The 23-year-old understands only too well that smaller clubs are more than capable of causing upsets from bitter personal experience; he made his debut for Liverpool in an FA Cup match against fourthtier Exeter City in 2016 and was unable to prevent his side being held to a 2-2 draw.
However, Kent believes the quality and experience that Rangers will have in the starting line-up in Gibraltar shoulder ensure they go through to a third-round tie against either Progres Niederkorn of Luxembourg or Willem II of the Netherlands.
The midfielder is certain that Gerrard’s charges can use the experience they have gained to their advantage in the Europa League in the weeks ahead.
“There’s a lot of chemistry in the team and everyone knows it’s an important fixture and competition for the football club,” he said. “It’s up to us not to let people down. We know the level of importance of this competition so we’ll prepare for this game like we would any other, give 100 per cent and hopefully come away with the result.
“On a personal level as well it’s a competition I want to achieve something in and put myself up against the best opposition in Europe. We know where we stand, but after the last two seasons in this competition there’s no reason we can’t kick on and progress further than we have so far.”
We are well aware of the task. We won’t be complacent
He also sat out the encounter with Faroese minnows NSI Runavik in the previous round.
Taylor knows how difficult it will be to progress to the group stages, given the quality of teams Derek McInnes’ men will have to overcome to get there. But he would like to make amends for past disappointments by doing so.
He feels that doing so will help to repay Dons fans for their continued backing during the football shutdown.
“I’ve had some good memories in the European football and it was something I missed when I went back to England so I’m glad to be back involved in it all again,” he said.
“You come up against very technical players in Europe so you have to be switched on mentally. There’s a lot of movement and interchange with players so you have to be 100 per cent focused at all times. I picked up an injury in Europe last season which was disappointing because I felt I was getting into my stride after pre- season, but thankfully it was at the start of the campaign rather than in the middle.
“I overstretched my hamstring when I slid in to win the ball. I got up and knew straight away it was a bad one.
“We’ve come close a few times so it’s about taking that next step and it would be absolutely massive if we could get to the group stages.
“The backing the fans have given the club in this tough time is fantastic, so it would be pleasing if we could go that one step further and get to the group stages and by then hopefully we can have fans attending those games and it would be fantastic for the whole club.”