RANGERS may have taken a bruising on the European front this season.
However, Giovanni van Bronckhorst insists that playing in the Champions League only provides benefits to his team – not problems.
The Ibrox club have played five matches in UEFA’s top competition, conceding a whopping 19 goals.
Ajax come to town on Tuesday in what is the final group game of this season’s tournament.
The Dutch giants sit only three-points ahead of Rangers, so with a win, the Gers could climb on to level points to restore some much-needed pride after taking several beatings from Napoli, Liverpool and even Ajax in the opening game.
On the flip side, there is the possibility that Rangers could finish off the group stages as the worst team ever to compete in the Champions League.
Despite that, van Bronckhorst is sure that his players and staff will learn from the experiences going forward.
He said: “I think it is a very good experience for my players to play against the level we are playing now. It is always better to play against good opponents because you will learn a lot from those games.
“The positive side is that you have the experience to play at the highest level against the best players in Europe.
“The other side is that you are losing games so, mentally, you have to make sure you cope with that.
“And that’s what we are doing at the moment and looking to take the lessons from all the games we have played in the Champions League to our league games. Those are positives we have to take with us.
“You are also facing and seeing what the highest level in Europe will take from you as a player. To be not 70, not 80 but 90 minutes in the game and sharp and not making mistakes.
“Every mistake you make in the Champions League, it’s a goal. Every mistake. I read that the passes leading to goals in the Champions League is only four or 4.2. It is very direct, always transition moments. There is an average of four passes before a goal.
“In the Scottish league, you see maybe 20 seconds before a goal. It’s very quick. Lose the ball - one, two, three it’s in the goal. As we have seen. It’s very fast. It’s about fast thinking and making the right decisions in split seconds. The difference is a lot."
Responding to a suggestion that the Europa League may have been more beneficial, the Dutchman replied: “I always try to reach the highest level possible. That is always your intention. That’s what my players did at the beginning of the season, playing against Union, playing against PSV and overcoming those two opponents to be in the Champions League.
“It’s against my nature to say ‘guys, let’s not qualify for the Champions League next season. Let’s go for the Europa League - that’s better for us.’
“It’s against all nature guys. A nation who qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 20-30 years and then they are out in the first round. People say ‘yes, they are out in the first round’. They congratulate you, you have qualified for the World Cup and then we are complaining that they are out in the first round, playing against Argentina and Brazil. It’s against my nature. I can never say to my guys ‘let’s qualify for the Europa League. Don’t try to be in the Champions League’, it’s impossible."
Meanwhile, the relentless injury situation at the club shows so signs of easing up to help van Bronckhorst in improving his side’s form.
As stated, Kemar Roofe has suffered another setback after picking up a knock in training.
It has been confirmed to be in the same area of his body, but it is not the same injury for the striker.
The manager admits the injury list is a frustration to him, although insists nothing could have been done to prevent the type of injuries.
He explained: ““Kemar has had seven or eight injuries in his calf in the last two years, and even before he joined here. So that’s Kemar.
“If you look at Ianis it’s a cruciate ligament, the same as I had. That’s impact.
“If you look at Connor it was also a moment he had in the game, the same with Tom Lawrence when someone stood on him against St Johnstone.
“These are impact injuries, they are not muscle injuries. It’s very hard to prevent these kinds of injuries.
“If your players are really like too many overloads, are tired and half to sprint a lot, those are the most difficult times. You try to balance that with some changes now and then; especially in a very hectic schedule. If it is possible. Sometimes in is not possible. But we are thinking of that every day.”
van Bronckhorst is expecting an even game going up against Jim Goodwin’s high-flying Aberdeen team today.
He said: “In winning four out of the last five, it is a team that has confidence through that run. They will come here with confidence. But we have to make sure we are ready for them.
“They have changed the tactics in the last couple of weeks so we see a change in that. Games against Aberdeen are always hard games.
“I can think of last year and also when I was playing. So it is not going to be an easy game. But we are at home so I am confident we can get a good result.”
