Michael Henke has told The Scottish Sun the ‘danger’ for Rangers in their Europa League tie with Borussia Dortmund will be the German side’s intense focus on beating a ‘big name’.
The Gers visit the Westfalenstadion on Thursday for the first-leg of their knockout play-off round tie. BVB dropped into the knockout phase of UEFA’s secondary club competition as the third-placed side from their Champions League group behind Ajax and Sporting Lisbon.
Borussia Dortmund only took one win from their meetings with Ajax and Sporting, while beating fourth-place Besiktas twice. They also lost with a combined score of 7-1 to Ajax, having lost 4-0 away to the Eredivisie outfit. Sporting also won their home meeting 3-1.
Henke, who led BVB to the 1996/97 Champions League title, concedes his former side have struggled for consistency this season. Despite sitting second in the Bundesliga, Marco Rose has suffered six defeats in 22 games in charge whilst allowing 36 goals to 57 scored so far.
Henke warns Rangers biggest ‘danger’ is Borussia Dortmund’s focus in Europa League
Yet Henke doubts Borussia Dortmund will struggle to focus in their Europa League meeting with Rangers. Instead, the BVB icon expects Rose’s side’s intense determination will be the biggest threat between Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s Gers and progressing into the last 16.
“It is a special game for Borussia and that fact can make them very dangerous,” Henke said. “The type of game it is can make sure their best players are extremely focused on beating Rangers. That is the danger for the Scottish team.
“Dortmund have not had the focus for every game this season, but I don’t see that being the case for Thursday night. They know Rangers are a good team and with a big name.”
Borussia Dortmund will host Rangers in the Europa League having won four of their last six games across all competitions. Their two defeats in that period include exiting the German Cup to second-tier side St Pauli, despite naming a strong line-up at the Millerntor-Stadion.
Rose also saw BVB lose 5-2 to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga during the North Rhine-Westphalia natives’ last home fixture. However, they responded to win 3-0 at Union Berlin.
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