Michael Beale has told Viaplay after Sunday’s 3-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final win that Rangers defender Borna Barisic has been his side’s best player of late – in terms of the Ibrox star’s consistency on the left side of the Rangers defence.
Barisic, 30, has played 15 times since returning to Glasgow after being a part of Croatia’s World Cup squad that got to the semi-finals in Qatar – winning the third-place play-off. In that time, he has started all 15 of Rangers’ matches.
Scoring twice himself and laying on five assists, the 29-time Croatia ace has been a regular for the Gers. Arguably, producing his best form in a Rangers shirt since joining the club under Steven Gerrard in the summer of 2018 for £2m.
On Sunday, he started but came off against Raith after 66 minutes in order to give Ridvan Yilmaz some minutes under his belt. But Beale was full of praise for Barisic in his post-match analysis, saying Barisic has been his side’s best player.
“I think Borna must have sensed he [Yilmaz] was getting fit because Borna has been consistently our strongest player over the last few weeks,” Beale told Viaplay when asked about Barisic, alongside Ally McCoist and Stephen Craigan.
Beale: Rangers defender Barisic has been his side’s best player of late
Barisic has been superb. In those 15 games, Rangers have conceded just 12 goals – keeping seven clean sheets. He has had a hand in seven goals. A stunning run of form for a player that has often been question in regards to his form.
Under Beale, Barisic looks like a different player. Given more freedom to get forward and have an impact in attack. Beale watched his side win a 16th game of 18 in all competitions. Barisic has been a very important part of that.
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