Rangers face Servette FC in their Champions League qualifier in midweek with their opponent’s assistant coach full of praise for one Ianis Hagi.
Servette’s penalty shoot-out victory over Belgian giants KRC Genk in the last round denied Ianis Hagi the chance to go head-to-head with the club he left back in 2020, Rangers reportedly paying £3 million to take the stylish Romania international away from the Jupiler League outfit.
That is not to say, however, that Genk’s conquerers are not equally aware of Hagi’s playmaking talents.
Rangers face Servette obstacle in Champions League pursuit
“It is clear that he is a very handsome footballer. A great technician and a good ball handler,” Bojan Dimic, Servette’s number two, tells RTS, describing Hagi as a rather atypical talent for a club plying their trade in the notoriously physical Scottish game.
“He is precisely there to do the Rangers a lot of good. Still, when you face such a team, you cannot single out one individual.
“At this level, all the players are very strong. No one should be watched more than another, since danger can arise from anywhere. It’s up to us to be disciplined, serious, and solid to achieve a result at home so that the Stade de Geneve is hot on August 15th.”
Bounceback required
Wednesday night’s meeting will be Rangers’ first competitive Ibrox outing of the new campaign. Mick Beale’s side may feel they have a point to prove as well, especially after Saturday’s insipid 1-0 loss away at Kilmarnock.
And Dimic is under no illusions of the role the famous Ibrox atmosphere could play; bigger and better clubs thatn Servette blown away by the blue tide in recent seasons.
“I think (the crowd) must give even more aggressiveness, rage, desire to succeed,” he adds. “The atmosphere of the Scottish audience, the mood, the intensity; this must be so motivating!
“Such a game should allow you to transcend yourself, to show even more character. Even if we don’t qualify (for the group stages), perhaps these European clashes will still reveal other leaders in our squad.”
