Confident Ridvan Yilmaz is convinced Rangers can mount a stirring comeback to sink Union Saint-Gilloise and reignite their flagging Euro hopes.
The 21-year-old sealed a £5.5m move from Besiktas last week and was sprung straight into Champions League action as a second half substitute in the chastening 2-0 loss to USG on Tuesday. But despite defeat, the Turkey international is steadfast in his belief Rangers can turn things around on home turf.
The Europa League finalists are in a deep hole but their Ibrox trump card is still to be played with Gio van Bronckhorst and his stars ready to produce another rousing night under the lights to leave the Belgian upstarts reeling. The winners of the tie will face either Monaco or PSV and Yilmaz reckons it will be Rangers in the playoff round. He said: "My dream is to get Rangers into the Champions League and also to finish the league in a good position, to win more cups, to contribute. I would also like to go to bigger clubs.”
“It’s an important match for the fans [Union second leg] and the club. We have the ability to reach the Champions League and I think that will be the result. In the Champions League, players should double their performance and the teams are always challenging. We have to double the performance and do better because it’s challenging.”
Yilmaz is relishing the chance to pick the brains of his manager Van Bronckhorst and learn from the esteemed former Netherlands skipper about how to master the left-back position at Ibrox. And he admits his discussions with both new boss and Turkish and Light Blues hero Tugay have been a major bonus as he adapts to his new surroundings.
He added: “It's quite important for me that Gio has played left-back, I'm going to learn quite a lot from him. Before I came here we talked a lot about what I was good at, and what are the things I could improve on. I think I'm going to learn a lot.
“Yes we [Tugay] talked and he told me that Rangers is a big club, an old club and he told me that the club would support me along the way. In and out of the club. This is really important for me and I am happy about this.”
“The best advice that he [Van Bronckhorst] gave me was that I could improve myself in terms of football, language and strength. He also added that Rangers fans and the club is quite passionate. That was quite important advice.”
Yilmaz knows Rangers seasons after often defined by their four Premier encounters with rivals Celtic in the race for title glory. And the rampaging full-back is hell-bent on making a telling impact on the fixture.
He said: “I have played in really big games in Turkey and I really enjoyed it. I’ll do that here too, and I’ll do my best and I am looking forward to it. I believe that my mentality in football and my speed, technique is good and this will be reflected in the game. It will increase the quality of my game.
“I know that some players have left and I hope that one day I will also leave money for the club, and that I will be going to another club.”
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