Barisic heads into the biggest three months of his career with a battle cry for Anfield: ‘We are Rangers’
Borna Barisic insists Rangers will travel to Anfield this week determined to remind Europe of their pedigree.
Beaten 4-0 by Ajax in Amsterdam, and 3-0 at home to Napoli in their first two games in the Champions League group, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are 16/1 outsiders with the bookmakers to win Tuesday’s meeting with Liverpool.
The Light Blues’ leftback has no difficulty understanding the bookies’ logic. With world-class talent like Mo Salah in their ranks, the six-time competition winners are the dictionary definition of formidable.
However, Barisic argues Rangers have to remember their own achievements – both at home and on the Continent.
“It will be hard. We know everything about Liverpool,” said the Croatian. “They have had some struggles this season, yes, but they are a quality team. They showed that when they scored nine goals against Bournemouth!
“Salah, for example, is top quality. He is in the top five players in the world, 100%.
“It will be special to play at Anfield, and we cannot wait for that. But it doesn’t mean that we want to be tourists.
“We are Rangers, and we also believe in our own qualities.
“It is no accident that we are in the Champions League and, as hard as it will be, we will give everything.
“The draw gave as a very good group with Napoli and Ajax also strong, but we are doing our best. We know this is a hard competition, and are trying to learn from every game.
“I think that we played well in the first half against Napoli. We found our identity, how we play, our style, our press and how we run.
“After we got the red card, it was hard. It is the Champions League, and with 10 men on the pitch they punished us. Losin 3-0 never feels good.
“But this is such a good competition, and a different level compared with the Europa League. In these ties, ever small mistake will be punished.
“But we will improve again, for sure, and we will be ready for Liverpool.”
Barisic points to the meeting of Jurgen Klopp’s side and Ajax at Anfield early this month to back his arguments.
“I watched the whole game,” he said. “Although Ajax were in contention for a long time, in the end it was 2-1 for Liverpool, and you could see the difference. We’ll see what happens when we play them.
“But I am pleased for Calvin Bassey because he is playing very well in Amsterdam.”
The 29-year-old has been in impressive form this season, a perfect response to Rangers’ £5.5-million purchase of Ridvan Yilmaz, with the young Turk unable o break into the side.
Barisic points to is chance to go to atar with Croatia
nd, indeed, games ike Rangers trip to nfield this week. “It’s a big motivation for me to go to the World up,” he said.
“I also have the Champions League, and the domestic league, so it’s maybe the best three or four months in my life. I need to be ready all the time.”
It has been a big turnaround from last season when Barisic frequently looked a frustrated figure, and there was much speculation he was on the brink of a move away from Scotland.
“There were a lot of things that happened last season,” Barisic explained. “Some things were not good with me and, of course, that affected my performance
“Towards the end of the season, I started to get better, and I was happier about the last two months. But before that, I had a lot of ups and downs.
“I started the new season very positive in my mind and very motivated, which is the most-important thing for me. I think you can see that in my performances.
“I will be honest with you, I do not want to talk about myself. I don’t want to talk about my performances. But I can say that I feel good, I am in good shape and I feel very motivated.
“The most-important thing is for the team to start winning again, and then it will be easier for everyone, including me.
“The team is always the most-important thing. And I am giving everything.”