Giovanni van Bronckhorst has shrugged off the suggestion from RB Leipzig’s Willi Orban that the German club’s players are physically and mentally drained as they prepare to host Rangers in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Orban made the claim after a surprise weekend loss for Leipzig, at home to Union Berlin, which ended a 15-game unbeaten run. Next up is Thursday’s meeting with Rangers, whose manager has paid no attention to Orban’s words.
“We just concentrate on our own game,” said Van Bronckhorst. “We have also played many games in the last weeks so I think for everyone still involved in Europe, in all the competitions, it’s quite demanding on the squad mentally and physically. In that case it’s the same for all of us.
“We have to make sure we are doing well ourselves and prepare the way we want to play against Leipzig. For me that’s more important than what other players or teams feel.”
Rangers can take confidence from their elimination of Borussia Dortmund earlier in this competition. An anticipated travelling contingent of about 8,000 illustrates a feeling among fans that Rangers can reach their first European final since 2008; a sense shared by the staff.
“Of course we have the belief,” Van Bronckhorst said. “If we are still involved in Europe and in a semi-final and you see the run we’ve had in Europe then it’s been very good. But we need another good performance and again next week.
“The confidence is there but I think also that we know that we have to perform again and everything we achieved in the past doesn’t count against Leipzig. We are just preparing well for these two games and I am very confident in my team.
“It’s the semi-final of the Europa League so the level is high, the level needed is also high, so we have to prepare well and make sure we have a good result to take back to Ibrox for next week.”
- Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhones or the Google Play store on Android phones by searching for 'The Guardian'.
- If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.
- In the Guardian app, tap the yellow button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Turn on sport notifications.
Rangers’ personnel issues are in attack. Injuries sustained by Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe pose an obvious problem for Van Bronckhorst, who is likely to deploy Ryan Kent in support of Fashion Sakala. Allan McGregor, the goalkeeper, missed Rangers’ 2008 Uefa Cup semi-final and final because of injury but will play in Germany aged 40.
“It was obviously disappointing last time but it is a different challenge and a wee bit further on in my life,” McGregor said. “Obviously it will be special, it will be special for every player. To get to this stage of a European competition for the club is massive.”
