‘Won the fights’: Slavia coach says one Rangers player dominated his side

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Slavia Prague coach Jindrich Trpisovsky admitted the Czech champions struggled to deal with Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos during the second half of Thursday’s Europa League round-of-16 clash, while speaking to the club’s website.

The most prolific European goal-scorer in Rangers’ history did not get his name on the scoresheet at the Sinobo Arena. In fact, he never really looked like finding the net during a game in which clear chances, for both sides, were at a premium.

But that is not to say Morelos was a passenger during a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Far from it.

The firebrand Colombian led the line with trademark ferocity throughout, giving Rangers a much-needed outball against a Slavia Prague who, particularly in the first-half, pressed high and made playing out from the back exceedingly difficult.

Slavia dominated the early exchanges but, as Trpisovsky himself admitted, they struggled to influence proceedings once Morelos came to the fore after the break.

“We had a good start in the second half, but Rangers got into the game more, Morelos won the fights and the opponent got to the ball more often,” Trpisovsky explained after Nicolae Stanciu’s stunning early strike was cancelled out by a scrappy Filip Helander equaliser.

“Rangers waited for our mistake to punish on the break. We did not take our chances and then the match was over.”

Helander and Connor Goldson were as solid as ever in Europe, and Trpisovsky knows that, if Slavia are to grab a vital away goal or two at Ibrox, creativity will be key. After all, the Rangers centre-backs are unlikely to lose any physical battles.

“Rangers are very strong in personal duels. Rangers are very strong at the back, we have no chance against them there. We have to get through them with quick combinations.”

19-year-old Nathan Patterson grew into the game in the Czech capital, making a number of key tackles late on. And, according to Trpisovsky, the sight of the springy teenager wiping sweat from his brow late on epitomised the competitive nature of the first-leg clash.

“The match cost both teams a lot of strength. Even a young player like Patterson had convulsions.”