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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Walker

Rangers' mammoth Champions League hurdle as former star reckons PSV are Dutch champions in waiting

Rangers will face off against the future Dutch champions this week when they play PSV Eindhoven, according to former Ajax and Netherlands star Theo Janssen.

Gio van Bronckhorst will come up against his former international teammate, Ruud van Nistelrooy, when his side welcome PSV to Ibrox on Tuesday in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs. Ajax are the Dutch side who have by far spent the most money during this summer's transfer window, forking out a record £82 million. And their purchases include £19 million for Rangers defender Calvin Bassey.

However, a size of the task facing Rangers over the two legs against PSV has been highlighted by Janssen, who won the Eredivisie with Ajax and Twente Enschede and is now a prominent Dutch TV analyst. And he's pinpointed former Rangers target Joey Veerman, who chose the Dutch side over Rangers earlier this summer, as their danger man.

He explained "I expect Ajax and PSV to compete for the title, but I think PSV will actually win it. I think PSV are an excellent team. They have a fantastic midfield with Joey Veerman, Ibrahim Sangare, Xavi Simons and Guus Til.

"In attack, they have brought in a gigantic signing with Luuk de Jong. Unfortunately, Noni Madueke is still injured, but PSV is the team that has become a lot stronger compared to last year. More so than even Ajax.

"Look at Til for example, who has actually been criticised for some of his displays. He has the ability to arrive late in the box and he showed that by scoring a hat-trick against Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Shield.

"He will score goals in the league and in Europe. And then there is Joey Veerman. I really think Veerman is a fantastic player. He has a great shooting technique, can score goals and has the ability to set up chances and assists.

"He really is the type of midfielder that strikers love because he sets up so many chances for them. He almost appears to be one step ahead of the rest of the players because he knows what is going to happen."

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