Rangers are looking to take another step towards the title
Rangers fans are delighted to see Ianis Hagi included from the start for today’s crucial showdown with Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
The Romanian has in recent weeks reminded supporters of the quality that saw Rangers convert his loan deal into a permanent move, scoring the winner against Hibs and impressing after replacing Kemar Roofe in the 1-0 win over Celtic.
Hagi, who has been linked with a move to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in recent days, will today make his 28th appearance of the season for Steven Gerrard’s side.
Victory at Pittodrie would put Rangers 22 points ahead in the title race, with Celtic playing host to Hibs tomorrow night.
Fans of the Ibrox club are pleased with Gerrard’s decision to unleash Hagi from the start.
Hagi’s father Gheorghe, who played for the likes of Barcelona, Galatasaray and Real Madrid while accumulating 124 Romanian caps in a glittering career, recently issued an emphatic defence of his son.
Speaking on Romanian TV station GSP, he said: ““He (Ianis) played and plays when the coach thinks he should.
“They have 27 players in the group. They have a very good group. In Scotland he plays every three days. He played a lot!
“He plays for a phenomenal team, the best in Europe. It is the only team that has not lost a match and the one that has scored the fewest goals.
“In Great Britain everyone talks only about Rangers.
“I also went to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Once I played, other times I didn’t.
“Rangers is a great club! They have not lost a single match in the championship or in Europe. Think about it!”
“The club is satisfied with him. He is seen very well.
“During this period, if another player played, he does it because before he played less, and now he is fitter. Or maybe that’s how Gerrard sees things.”
STARTING XI: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Kamara, Aribo, Davis, Kent, Hagi, Morelos
SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Patterson, Zungu, Barker, Stewart, Defoe, Itten
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