Rangers midfielder Scott Arfield gives reasons for Rapid Vienna’s goal

Follow us on Google Discover

Rangers failed to beat Rapid Vienna and have been knocked out of the Europa League.

Scott Arfield has told Rangers official website that Rapid Vienna found space in the midfield which helped them score the only goal of the game, after Steven Gerrard took Ryan Jack off for Kyle Lafferty.

Rangers had started three central midfielders in the form of Jack, Lassana Coulibaly and a surprise appearance for Ross McCrorie, who remained on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes.

But with 10 minutes to go and Rangers in need of a winner to qualify for the last 32, Gerrard opted to take Ryan Jack off and replace him with striker Kyle Lafferty – going from a three-man midfield to just two.

Vienna exploited the space, before Dejan Ljubicic struck to break Rangers hearts. Arfield spoke after the match, stating the understands Gerrard’s decision but believes the space in midfield was a reason for the goal.

“The goal that they won with, we had stomped out those fires for 80 minutes leading up to that with the three men in midfield,” Arfield said.

“We then pushed [Kyle] Lafferty up to get the goal, and the goal comes from that area and he slips in and it’s a good finish. I think one goal was always going to win, and we fancied ourselves right up until that.”

Rangers needed to win before the match kicked off, as they sat in third behind second-placed Vienna. Now, they will have to concentrate on the Scottish Premiership – and indeed the Scottish Cup.

Celtic, meanwhile, have qualified for the last 32 by the skin of their teeth. Losing 2-1 to RedBull Salzburg at Parkhead, Celtic had to rely on Rosenborg to get a result against RB Leipzig – and an 86th minute saw the Norwegians draw.