Borna Barisic has warned Rangers have to win the battle first before they can show their continental class when they travel to Tynecastle tonight.
Rangers have frustrated their fans in 2020, beating Braga home and away in the Europa League while losing at Tynecastle and Rugby Park and drawing at home to Aberdeen then away to St Johnstone.
Barisic, left, admits the challenges are completely different and insists it’s about having the right mindset and being ready for the scrap against Premiership sides. Only then can they show their true quality.
Steven Gerrard’s side slipped to a 2-1 defeat in Gorgie in late January and the Croatia international said: “Hearts won’t be like Braga.
“There will be a lot of long balls and the pitch is tight so it’s a different type of challenge and we must be prepared in our heads for that.
“When you go to play against Hearts, for example, it’s not easy. First and foremost you have to be prepared for battle and then your quality will come.
“If you don’t have that ‘battle first’ mentality then we can draw or lose.
“It’s necessary to battle in European games but not in the same way as in Scotland. It’s up to each individual player to make sure they are prepared for the battle and I’m confident Hearts will see a different Rangers in this game.
“We need to start the game better than on our last trip to Tynecastle.
“It’s about mentality and accepting it won’t be about nice football. We’re not happy that we have been inconsistent in the second half of the season in the Premiership games.
“We haven’t played well at times but we showed in Braga what we can do if we have the right mentality.
“In Scotland, everyone expects us to win every game. It’s not easy, of course, especially when you are playing every three or four days but when you are the underdog then it can be easier to play.
“Braga have very good individual players but we were very focused and kept a clean sheet so that’s a big boost going into the Hearts game.”
