Steven Gerrard will lead Scottish Premiership challengers Rangers into a daunting Europa League clash against Portuguese powerhouses FC Porto.
Porto coach Sergio Conceicao has admitted prior to tonight’s Europa League clash at the Dragao that he has a lot of admiration for Steven Gerrard’s ‘very dangerous’ Rangers side, in quotes reported by the Evening Times.
The cynics might not have given The Gers much of a chance when they were drawn in a group alongside Champions League regulars Porto, 2017 Eredivisie winners Feyenoord and the always dangerous Young Boys of Bern.
But the Glasgow giants have given themselves a decent chance of qualification after deservedly beating Feyenoord on matchday one, even if a last-gasp defeat to the Swiss champions last time out was a major setback.
With the likes of Alfredo Morelos, Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack and Filip Helander in their side, Rangers have a number of players who already look more than comfortable at this level and Conceicao certainly isn’t taking Rangers lightly.
“Traditionally Rangers and Scottish teams are all about fighting and being aggressive. They have a great attitude and the Scottish teams are always strong so we will have to fight for everything,” said the former Nantes boss, who won the Primeira Liga title in his first season at Porto.
“People think they do not play football, but that is not the case. Yes, Rangers may be more direct but they can be very dangerous.
“We observed matches when they had more space and they are dangerous. If we are passive in our defending we will have a lot of problems.”
Reading between the lines, it sounds like Porto will be focused on sitting back and restricting space to Morelos and co before potentially hitting Rangers on the counter.
Does Gerrard’s side have the cutting edge and the creativity to find a way past experienced internationals like Pepe, Augustin Marchesin and Mateus Uribe?
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