As Rangers went tumbling out of the Champions League last week, you probably found yourself coming up with any number of spectacular excuses as you licked your wounds.
We’re just not there yet. Malmo are actually a decent outfit. We should’ve spent more to reach the reported £30m-£40m land of Milk and Honey.
But the reality is that Rangers failed to prepare properly – despite repeated warnings – and the club paid a heavy price which may take some time to get over for supporters.
It feels like an age since Rangers capitulated against the 10 men of Malmo in the final 45 of their QR3 Champions League clash week and this week the European fixtures are back around.
But for Gers fans just slowly recovering from the sickness of last Tuesday evening, look away now.
Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol are this summer’s European fairy-tale story and they sit on the brink of history and a place in the cash-rich group stages.
With a population of 2.5m, the Moldovan national team are ranked 175th by FIFA and Sheriff Tiraspol are ranked 93rd in the UEFA Club Rankings.
And yet the nation’s Champions stand on the brink of history and a first-ever group stage spot for a Moldovan club in the Champions League after dumping Croat Champions Dinamo 3-0.
Yuriy Vernydub’s side are on the verge of a major upset on Europe’s elite stage with the financial benefits transformational for the nation’s game.
They are only halfway there against Dinamo – who have a penchant for turning things around as Tottenham Hotspur know all to well – but they have one foot in the Group Stages.
This also comes after the side defeated the intimidating Red Star Belgrade 2-1 on aggregate to earn their Playoff spot.
But whilst the old romantic in the hearts of Rangers fans might be willing Sheriff to hold on when they travel to Zagreb next week, the result may well stick in the craw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvDMqUN5Qdc
Rangers are in a much better place than Sheriff and if they can reach the group stages of the Champions League, then we’ve got to be asking why we didn’t.
There’s no use going over old ground, but it’s clear that constantly underestimating this stage of the competition is hurting Scottish clubs who for too long, have been underperforming at this level.
It’s been a sore one for Rangers fans to take and the sizeable knock-on effect means the impact of the exit might be felt for a wee while yet.
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