Braga underline threat to Ibrox men by springing shock in Lisbon
Gerrard insists Rangers will need their strong European home form and more if they are to get the better of Braga
WHEN pointed out to Steven Gerrard that progress to the UEFA Cup final 12 years ago was underpinned by first-leg clean sheets at Ibrox, the Rangers manager replies: ‘Well, Walter Smith is a hero of mine. A real hero of mine...’
Gerrard has, then, carried out a remarkable job to avoid being accused of imitating his heroes in his first job as a manager.
Rangers have conceded only five times in 14 European home games under Gerrard and two of them were own goals — Connor Goldson for Osijek in last season’s qualifying rounds and Borna Barisic for Young Boys in December on the night Rangers reached the Round of 32 for the first time in nine years.
Spartak Moscow, Villarreal, Feyenoord and Porto form a quality quartet of regular Champions and Europa League participants to have struck out in front of goal in Glasgow against a Gerrard team.
And not one single accusation could justifiably be hurled back from Russia, Spain, Holland or Portugal about anti-football in this era because Rangers had intent, intensity and energy about them as they carved out no shortage of chances.
In the case of the visits of Feyenoord and Porto in the group phase of this season’s competition, Rangers were arguably value for more than their margins of victory.
The alchemy of such evenings is precisely what Gerrard and his men need right now to inject fresh impetus into their season.
On European nights over the past 18 months, the Ibrox crowd has had their back. A stalemate in domestic action, in contrast, and they are on the players’ backs.
That is simply title desperation at play on the home front where Rangers have been afflicted by a puzzling performance slump since the winter break.
If Rangers are to protect Gerrard’s proud unbeaten home record in continental competition, those issues cannot be allowed to infiltrate the European stage.
His team, he warns, will be required to better all previous Europa League form against Thursday’s impressive visitors from Braga who bring a superb recent away record to protect in Scotland.
‘We are going to have to find an A-level performance at home to try to get a result,’ said Gerrard. ‘We’re looking at dangerous opposition here. The level is about to go up in terms of from the group stage.’
Braga are unbeaten in their past 13 European fixtures, winning all five on the road this season against Brondby and Spartak Moscow in qualifying, then Wolves, Besiktas and Slovan Bratislava to help them top Group K.
Yet Gerrard expressed himself comfortable, in the current Ibrox climate, to be playing on home soil first.
Happy memories, perhaps, for Steven Davis and Allan McGregor — veterans of 2008 when Rangers prevented Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina from netting a first-leg goal in Govan.
‘If you think about where we are right now, I am not sure I would pick having the second leg at home if I had the opportunity,’ said Gerrard.
‘If we had to win the game, or win by more than one goal, the crowd can get a bit nervous and edgy sometimes. Whereas if we can find a performance that we’re capable of and we manage to keep a clean sheet, for example, that would be the minimum I would like.
‘Because a clean sheet gives you a good chance in the second leg. And, if we can get our noses in front, then it becomes their problem.
‘Cup football over two legs is different to knockout and group stage football. You maybe have to adapt your strategy. You don’t have to be gung-ho and open.’
When asked what the key was to keeping a European run going at the knockout stage, the former UEFA Cup and Champions League winner said: ‘I think you have to be incredibly organised, out of possession. Because if you are not, players at this level will hurt you — and hurt you badly.
‘So before you worry about creating and scoring, you have to be incredibly disciplined. ‘I have worked for managers like (Fabio) Capello and (Rafa) Benitez and that’s what they are the world’s best for. That’s why I had a lot of success as a player in Europe.
‘Going into these two ties, if we are not absolutely on the money out of possession and in our organisation, we could have some issues.
‘Having that gives you the base to go and create and have moments in the game that we’ll have to take.’
Braga have become a more daunting opponent for Rangers since the knockout phase draw was made. The sacking of Ricardo Sa Pinto, who paid the price for poor domestic results, and promotion from the ‘B’ team of Ruben Amorim has worked a winter break treat.
Last night’s 1-0 win over Benfica extended Braga’s unbeaten run to 10 matches, including two victories apiece over Porto and Sporting, under the 34-year-old coach whose appointment caused a stir on account of his lack of official managerial qualifications.
Gerrard has been impressed during his intensive studies, warming up for what he feels will be an absorbing tactical battle.
‘The winter break gives you an opportunity to look at what you will be coming up against and I had the chance to watch some Braga games,’ said the Ibrox boss.
‘So we are ahead of the game in terms of knowing Braga’s personnel and how they set up.
‘We believe that they might be a bit sensible when they come here at first, play us on the counter-attack. But this is us guessing how they’ve looked in certain games and what they’ve done in Europe before to get to this stage.
‘We think they will try to remain in the game and be really organised and take it into the second leg.
‘It’s going to be interesting tactically how both teams set up to go about it. It’s quite fascinating because it’s two different styles.’
Braga were most dangerous on the counter-attack in their section, rounding off their campaign in style by hitting four in Bratislava.
Of concern to Rangers should be the increase in menace of 20-year-old winger Francisco Trincao, who will move to Barcelona for £28million at the end of the season, having earned Cristiano Ronaldo comparisons.
Rangers have stifled and frustrated a few famed individuals over the years when Ibrox has risen to the European occasion and Gerrard is plotting more of the same to keep this tie alive for the return in Portugal six days later.
‘I said at the start of the season, when I was asked if I would put all my eggs in one basket and focus domestically instead of Europe, that you can’t do that at a club like this,’ he said.
‘You have to basically commit to everything and do your best to be successful in every competition.
‘Obviously, the form we are in right now, this game is going to be one hell of a challenge for us.
‘We’ve done ever so well to earn this opportunity in the Europa League. This is a big moment for everyone connected with the club.’