Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst certainly appeared to change his tune regarding the club’s finances as his side heralded an unwanted record in the Champions League.
The Gers’ summer recruitment has come in for continuing criticism from the fans at Ibrox as Rangers were routinely humiliated at Champions League level this season.
The humblings have been so bad in fact, that not only was the 7-1 defeat to Liverpool the club’s worst-ever result at Ibrox and in their European history, but the pointless six-game run of defeats and -20 goal difference is the worst showing the tournament has ever seen.
It’s little wonder the ire is being directed at the team, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and the Rangers Board for seemingly failing to bulk out the squad with the necessary quality ahead of the Champions League campaign.
But speaking after the latest disappointment – a 3-1 defeat to Dutch champions Ajax at Ibrox – Giovanni van Bronckhorst refuted misleading claims about the financial implications of Champions League football.
According to the Dutchman, Rangers didn’t quite have the financial muscle the papers claimed amid reports of a £40m Champions League jackpot.
“I know that the club will do everything to try to build the strongest squad we have,” said Van Bronckhorst [Rangers].
“I’ve read many stories that we struck gold with so many millions coming in. It’s not true. It’s not true all the figures I see in papers.
“We don’t have that budget to spend so that’s another thing we saw in the beginning. We play in the Champions League so we have £40m extra, that is not true and that creates an expectation that we can buy new players.
“The way we bought the players this season is to qualify for the Champions League but I don’t think the club will spend millions if the millions aren’t there.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst goes back on Rangers Champions League claim
Now this all seems fair enough, but the sounds are clearly different from those Giovanni van Bronckhorst made when Rangers qualified for the Champions League earlier in the season.
Van Bronckhorst insisted that the club was discussing the “financial opportunities” associated with the qualification and that “anything can happen” in the transfer window.
“The club and the board are happy with the financial opportunities and we are always having good conversations in how to spend the money,” said Van Bronckhorst.
“It’s seven days. Anything can happen but we have to be prepared.”
Who was creating expectations then Gio?
The entire thing is very confusing and will become clearer in the club’s annual accounts, where the initial payments of the transfers of Calvin Bassey, Nathan Patterson and Joe Aribo will be established.
The impact of the run to the Europa League Final and qualification for the Champions League can also be assessed and Rangers fans will get a greater picture into the club’s financial situation.
But even with these soundbites from Van Bronckhorst, there can be no denying that Rangers, even with the injuries, were woefully unprepared for their first jaunt into the Champions League in 12 years.
Meanwhile, the Celtic brass neck to criticise Rangers in a continuing Champions League embarrassment for the country.