Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose has refused to rule out Erling Haaland missing the second leg of the Europa League knockout play-off against Rangers [Football Scotland].
Rangers were outstanding in Dortmund on Thursday night, shocking the hosts with a thoroughly deserved 4-2 victory.
Gio van Bronckhorst’s side were largely able to nullify the German giants’ attacking threat while being clinical at the other end, although excellent strikes from Jude Bellingham and Raphael Guerreiro have ensured that the tie is still alive.
Of course, though, the hosts were without their star man, Haaland.
The world-class 21-year-old striker has 23 goals in 20 appearances this season but he didn’t recover from a groin injury in time to feature.
And now his manager has claimed he doesn’t know whether or not the Norway international will be fit enough to feature in the second leg at Ibrox next week.
“I can’t say that yet,” replied Rose when asked if he’d have Haaland back [Football Scotland]. “Yesterday, he participated in training, but just a small part.”
“There’s still a few days to go, but he hasn’t played for quite a while. It’s a difficult story so I have no idea, I can’t tell you.
“Of course this situation is difficult.”
Given the first leg scoreline, Rangers are now favourites to go through.
However, a two-goal lead could disappear quite quickly if a player like Haaland is in the mood, so it would be a major boost for the Gers if he missed out again.
Connor Goldson and Calvin Bassey dealt with Haaland’s replacement Donyell Malen very well and they’d no doubt back themselves to keep him quiet once again at Ibrox next week.
In other news, a Rangers-daft EFL player celebrated the Gers’ win on Twitter.
