Former Dutch international Youri Mulder is backing PSV Eindhoven to ‘easily beat’ a Rangers side with just ‘one good player’ during Tuesday’s Champions League play-of at Ibrox, speaking to Ziggo Sport.
You know when managers speak about pundits writing their team talk for them?
Well such a phrase was made for Youri Mulder’s pre-match vivisection of a Rangers side who, lest we forget, were a couple of penalty kicks away from winning the Europa League a couple of months ago.
Yes, Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are arguably fortunate to still be in contention for a group-stage spot, having rode their luck against Union Saint-Gilloise last time out. But PSV cannot afford to share Mulder’s complacency if they are to avoid joining an enviable collection of Ibrox scalps.
Can Rangers beat PSV Eindhoven and secure a Champions League spot?
“I saw Rangers against Union,” says the former Schalke and FC Twente striker, via Voetbal Primeur.
“I didn’t like Rangers at all. (They are) two levels below than Monaco (who PSV beat in the last round). PSV will easily beat that. They have one good player and that is Malik Tillman.”
Of course, Alfredo Morelos, Conor Goldson, Glen Kamara, Ryan Jack, Ryan Kent, Tom Lawrence, Antonio Colak and co will have something to say about that. Though you can see why Mulder would draw such a bold conclusion. At least, if that 2-0 first-leg defeat in Belgium a fortnight ago is his only exposure to this Rangers side.
Tillman, the fleet-footed Bayern Munich loanee, was perhaps the only bright spark in that most insipid of losses. He would score the winner in the 3-0 turnaround one week later.
“I am not very optimistic,” counters ex-Ajax midfielder Jan Van Halst.
“Rangers do not have the quality of Monaco and a different style of play with more physicality and power. PSV is growing something, but I’m afraid Rangers will come a little too early (in the season).”
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