Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde is not buying into the demise of Rangers ahead of the Europa League quarter final clash at Ibrox.
Valverde will live out an Ibrox dream when he leads Athletic Club into the lion’s den in Glasgow’s southside with the Spanish manager a big fan of Rangers’ famous atmosphere.
But the 61-year-old has been talking down Rangers’ abysmal home form ahead of the clash at Ibrox, the Gers currently on a record-breaking run of five home defeats on the bounce.
Athletic Club are firm favourites to make it six – especially given Rangers’ woeful record against Spanish clubs – but Ernesto Valverde isn’t buying into that narrative.
In fact the former Barcelona manager reckons that far from be down and out, Rangers are actually one of the Europa League favourites.
Rangers ‘could be favourites’ for the Europa League
Speaking ahead of the Europa League clash, Barry Ferguson branded Athletic Club the ‘favourites’ to go on and lift the Europa League.
That’s not without good reason either; Athletic Club are currently fourth in La Liga behind Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
Bilbao’s Estadio de San Mames will also host this season’s Europa League Final, meaning there’s an extra incentive for the Basque outfit to go all the way.
But Ernesto Valverde doesn’t see it that way, with the Spanish manager insisting there is an argument that the Gers are favourites.
It comes after Athletic Club were held to back-to-back goalless draws with Osasuna and Villarreal in Spain.
“We’ve not managed to score in last two,” Valverde told the press ahead of the game. “Look at things overall not just last two games.
“Rangers, I view that as something extraordinary, the run of losses. Never happened before. I watched Rangers against Hibs, they had more chances and didn’t make the most of them. Rangers are a good team at home. Let’s see what Rangers show up.
“Rangers are one of the toughest teams in the competition for me. Arguments they could be favourites. It’s a knockout competition.”
Ernesto Valverde singles out two Rangers danger men
Whilst Rangers’ domestic form leaves a lot to be desired, the Europa League has proven a welcome distraction at Ibrox this season.
The Gers overcame a tough League Phase draw to finish in the competition’s top eight before giving Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce a bloody nose in the Round of 16.
Barry Ferguson was praised for his pragmatism in that tie and Valverde is expecting the unexpected come kick-off in Glasgow.
“They have various ways of playing,” Valverde explains. “Every team has a way of managing key moments.
“Of course they’ll try and dominate the game. When they press high they have a lot of aggression. I am expecting the best version of Rangers.”
Valverde has also singled out Vaclav Cerny and Cyriel Dessers as Rangers’ two danger men as the Ibrox side look to channel the spirit of Seville in Glasgow
“They’ve got a good team,” Valverde said. “They move well across the pitch, very fast. A lot of modes of play. Hit us on counter attacks.
“Players like Dessers, Cerny who can play well. They can compete with any team and it is only three years since reached the final. A big challenge playing in a stadium like this in the quarter-final.”
