OPINION
Rangers return to European football for the first time in seven years on Thursday as they travel to Villareal in their Europa League opener.
This is a big test first up for Steven Gerrard’s men, but the Gers have enjoyed a very solid start to life under the Liverpool legend and will be confident going in to this one.
The prospect of playing in Europe will be an exciting one for this squad, most of whom will have no experience of doing so in the past.
It is therefore safe to say that the Light Blues will not need much extra motivation going in, but Villareal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo has now foolishly provided them with that.
As quoted by the Daily Record, Asenjo said: “The group won’t be easy but my prediction is that Villarreal and Spartak will top the group and follow into the next round.
“I don’t know too much about Rangers but we will study them before Thursday.”
To be written off before a ball has been kicked in the competition will surely fuel the fire within many of these Rangers players, who will be raring to go against the La Liga side on Thursday.
The Light Blues could not really have been given a tougher opening test in their group but that is likely to be a good thing as Gerrard’s men look to enter the competition with a bang.
And, looking at both teams’ records this season, there is no reason why the Gers cannot go to El Madrigal and secure a huge upset.
They have taken eight points from their first five games in the league to sit in fourth, with two wins, two draws and a loss against champions Celtic.
Villareal on the other hand have endured a really poor start to the term, with the Valencian side winning just a solitary point from three matches so far, including two home defeats by Real Sociedad and Girona.
All the signs are there to suggest that Rangers could get a positive result on Thursday, and Asenjo’s putdown has now handed them extra motivation to do so.