Italian saying has filled former star with confidence
Sergio Porrini cites an old Italian proverb as evidence Rangers can triumph in the Europa League Final.
The former Light Blues full- back is thrilled at the success of a side put together at a tiny fraction of the cost of the one he played in at the end of the 1990s.
“What they have done so far has made me really happy – and it is not finished yet,” said Porrini.
“In Italy, we have a saying: ‘Non c’è due senza tre’. It translates as ‘there is no two without three’, and I guess in English that is ‘things come in threes’.
“So having already beaten tw o G e r m a n teams – Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig – it is now time to take out a third, Eintracht Frankfurt.
“Of course, if we look ser iously at the tie, we have to appreciate Eintracht’s achievement in also reaching the Final.
“They beat West Ham both home and away, which immediately makes them worthy or our respect.
“I say that because it is always very difficult to play against English teams. They have good physicality, can play at a high- tempo throughout games, and they never give up.
“Those qualities got West Ham to the semifinal, so Frankfurt have done very well.
“I think even those looking from the outside, though, would have to give the same sort of credit to Rangers.
“To be 1- 0 down to Leipzig after the first leg, and overturn the deficit inside 90 minutes, was very good indeed.
“They fully deserve their place in the Final.”
Porr ini was with Rangers when they were still using financial muscle to compete at home and abroad, and he admits he is a fan of the more-strategic approach now being adopted.
“The club has recruited some great champions over the years, players who a re household names,” he said.
“Today’s team has what I would call a more ‘blue collar’ feel to it, with fewer star players.
“In their absence, though, there is a great collective spirit that has enabled them to get excellent results against opponents at the top level.
“I rea l l y like that about them, and believe Giovanni van Bronckhorst is doing a great job.
“The re c r u i t m e n t , bringing in players with the right mentality, is impressive.”
Never more so than against Leipzig where, in a front of pumped- up, sell-out 50,000 crowd, the players pulled together to honour the late Jimmy Bell.
“I was so sorry to hear of Jimmy’s passing,” said Porrini, who remembers the kit-man well from his years in Scotland.
“He was with the club for so many years, and he always played his part, regardless of who the manager was, or which players he was working with.
“The news made me very sad, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family.
“But we know for sure that the club now having the chance to win one of Europe’s big competitions would make Jimmy very happy.”