Under-fire Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst applauded his side’s best performance of the season after mauling Aberdeen at Ibrox. And the Dutchman says if they replicate it on Tuesday night they’ll pick up their first Champions League points against Ajax.
Gers battered the Dons 4-1 in the Premiership to get van Bronckhorst a much-needed victory, thanks to goals from Antonio Colak, John Lundstram, James Tavernier and Alfredo Morelos. It eased the pressure on their gaffer and moved them to within two points of league leaders Celtic in the table.
Afterwards, van Bronckhorst praised their character after going a goal down to Jim Goodwin’s side. And he’s convinced that if they keep up their energy and intensity in midweek, they can get a positive Champions League result. Van Bronckhorst said: “I think it’s our most complete performance of the season for 90 minutes so it’s very pleasing, also for the players.
“I’m really satisfied with the display, to play at home against Aberdeen and have 70 per cent of the ball and 35 shots in goal - that is a really dominant performance. We needed a win for so many reasons today.
“When you drop points last week and then lose in Naples on Wednesday, you need a performance today to keep going and to make sure you continue on a very positive track. We did that so this win brings so many good things for our team.
“It was lightning today. We put a focus on our start in the game.
“I told them to start really well and be aggressive in the first 15 minutes. Every time we start on the front foot it is not only the beginning but you take it with you throughout the whole game.
“Tuesday is a different competition with the Champions League again. It’s our last game and we are ready to get the first points of this campaign.
“We have a chance to do so at home against any team. A 90 minute performance like this on Tuesday will give us a chance against a quality opponent. If we win the game we have even points with Ajax and that really shows the strength of this group.”
Van Bronckhorst is down to the bare bones defensively after injuries to Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies on Saturday. The Turkish left-back faces at least two weeks out with a hamstring strain while the centre-half will be assessed properly today.
But after going a goal down to Aberdeen, van Bronckhorst was just pleased to rack up a comprehensive win and produce a classy display. He said: “There was no panic today when we went a goal down, just kept going and created chances. We had a lot of threats going forward today and that was really pleasing.
“We were aggressive, we won our duels, we kept going forward with every pass that we could and kept them under pressure. That is positive and it is also a reminder from my team that they can play like this.”
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