Borna Barisic was arguably the best player on the pitch as Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers narrowly beat Osijek in the Europa League qualifier.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers side already looked much improved compared to the one that started last season under Pedro Caixinha.
While The Gers were being humiliated by the fourth best team in Luxembourg a year ago, Gerrard’s new-look side were sealing a hard-fought 1-0 win in Croatia against an NK Osijek side who beat Dutch champions PSV home and away in last summer’s Europa League qualifiers.
Rangers already look far more well-drilled – but if there is one position that Gerrard perhaps still needs to strengthen, it is at left-back. Declan John, a regular starter in 2017/18, hasn’t featured in any of the former Liverpool skipper’s three games so far with Jon Flanagan preferred on the flank.
Flanagan, however, is a right-back by trade and looked suspect at both ends of the pitch against Osijek on Thursday. So Gerrard, from his view on the touchline, should not have ignored the excellent display of Borna Barisic on the opposition’s wing. The Rangers fans certainly took notice.
The 25-year-old was arguably Osijek’s star performer, whipping in a number of superb crosses with his left foot and giving captain James Tavernier a torrid time throughout the 90 minutes. Barisic, who has won three caps for Croatia since 2017, should therefore be the latest name on Rangers’ summer wishlist as Gerrard aims to complete his squad.
On Thursday’s evidence, Barisic would be a massive upgrade on Flanagan and give Rangers a Tavernier-style creative influence on the opposite side.
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