RUUD VAN NISTELROOY knows Rangers will be weaker without Alfredo Morelos as they chase Champions League glory against PSV Eindhoven.
But the Dutchman insists countryman Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have been thinking of the bigger picture when choosing to leave his star striker back in Glasgow.
Morelos will play no part in the second leg of the play-off clash with the Eredivisie giants after being dumped from the squad that made the trip to Holland on Tuesday.
The Colombian - sent off in the Premiership draw with Hibernian at the weekend - has failed to hit the ground running since returning from the thigh injury that ruled him out the closing stages of last season.
Concerns over his fitness and attitude have resulted in Van Bronckhorst informing Morelos that he will not play in Eindhoven as contract negotiations are halted.
Rangers were already facing an uphill task to book a group stage berth but PSV boss Van Nistelrooy isn't surprised to see his former team-mate take a strong course of action.
"We know Alfredo and what a player he is and can be and what he did for Rangers," Van Nistelrooy said.
"He is a very good striker, so for us we obviously focus on ourselves – but I rate him a lot as a player.
"I don’t know why and how things went, but I know Gio and I know he wants to get somewhere with the team and the club he works for.
"He will make his decisions in the best interests of the team and the best of the club. So I am not surprised that he is still doing that.
“I don’t know the decision-making about the Morelos case. I cannot comment on that.
“But I know Giovanni is making the best decision in the interest of the club and the team. That’s the way I know him as a professional and a person.
"Of course Morelos didn't start and also in the games before our one we saw him come on many times but not starting.
"So in that sense we don't think it has the biggest influence. The number one striker is Colak and we expect him for [the] game."
