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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Antwerp boss pinpoints ultimate Rangers importance as he calls for new deal amid form explosion

Antwerp's interim boss Franky Vercauteren had called for a permanent deal ahead of his side's Europa League clash with Rangers.

The 64-year-old has had a flying start to life at the Jupiler Pro League side with five wins in six since he was appointed last month.

He replaced Croat Ivan Leko who was poached by a lucrative deal to take charge of Shanghai SIPG in China.

Steven Gerrard will face him next week when he takes his team to Belgium for the last 32 clash before a return leg at Ibrox one week later.

Vercauteren only signed a short-term deal until the end of the season and the former Anderlecht, Sporting Lisbon and interim Belgium manager revealed he doesn't know whether he and the club will discuss a new deal.

He said: "There is certainly a desire on my part to continue, but under certain conditions of course.

"And the club will have to decide whether they want me to stay on too.

"I see a lot of progress here, but it all depends on whether the club likes the direction we are going or not.

"We have a massive week with Standard Liege and Rangers and it's been like that since I took charge. Game after game in quick succession, each seemingly more important than the other.

"It looks like Club Brugge are the best team in the league because they are 14 points clear at the top and the strength of their squad is very high, but we are still very much going for second place and we are still fighting in Europe too."

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