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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Christopher Jack

Van Bronckhorst insists Rangers are showing signs of improvement in Champions League

GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST insists there are signs of improvement for Rangers despite a third successive Champions League defeat.

The Light Blues are pointless and goalless in Group A after following up their 4-0 and 3-0 losses to Ajax and Napoli with a 2-0 reverse away to Liverpool.

Goals in either half from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah clinched a comfortable win for Jurgen Klopp’s side as they produced an accomplished showing at Anfield.

Rangers were largely outclassed on another difficult night at this level but Van Bronckhorst was able to take heart from aspects of the performance against the Reds.

Van Bronckhorst said: “We knew it was going to be a very difficult game with the attacking threat they have. They have players making runs almost every time they have the ball in space I think the plan to have five at the back was a good one to narrow those spaces.

“We know it was going to be difficult when they play at high speed, quick passing. In the first half we were still in the game at half-time with only one goal of a difference.

“We identified the moments much better in the second half to go higher up the pitch and bring pressure on them. We did that far better than in the first half.

“Of course it is disappointing to lose two goals from set pieces. We had some chances to make it 2-1, one ball was cleared from the line. Maybe we could have got something more out of the game.  I think we have improved in the Champions League from the first game.

“But the level we face is very high and the level we had had today wasn’t enough to get something from the game.”

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