Steven Gerrard will be hoping his Rangers side can progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League once again this season.
Feyenoord striker Orkun Kokcu has warned that his team won’t go to Ibrox to ‘sit back’ as they prepare to take on Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Steven Gerrard will be hoping his players can start off the group stage campaign with a win, with highly-rated youngster Kokcu looking to spoil their party.
The Gers come into this match on the back of a 3-1 win against Livingston. If Gerrard’s attacking players can be on song then more than likely they could prove to be too much for their Dutch opponents.
Youngster Kokcu made some brave comments ahead of the match as his team are set to test Rangers’ backline because they will be looking to be on the front foot.
“I can promise we won’t go to Ibrox to sit back and defend. Our aim is to get the three points and to do that we have to attack,” said Kokcu, as quoted by Herald Scotland.
“I believe we are improving as a team every week. We have a lot of belief and we are full of confidence ahead of playing Rangers.
“The manager wants us to play in a certain way and that’s been reflected in the way we have been playing recently. Rangers are a club with a great history – they are a top team in Scotland, but it’s about how we play there. If we play our own game and not worry about the opposition we have a great chance.”
The Thursday night matchup will also a heavyweight clash on the touchlines as Gerrard comes up against former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam.
Gerrard would have faced the Dutchman during the early part of his career, as he will be hoping he can now get the better of him on the touchline.
Stam previously managed English Championship side Reading, who reached the play-off final in 2017, but they were beaten by Huddersfield Town, as he has since returned to his home country.
Along with Rangers, Stam’s side will also be tipped to reach the knockout stages of the Europa League this term.
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