Rangers star Antonio Colak is answering his doubters as his latest strike in the Champions League Playoff with PSV Eindhoven his fourth in as many games.
The big Croatian striker, 28, joined in the summer from PAOK in Greece and endured some early criticism as Rangers chugged along in the early part of the season.
This intensified after the 2-0 defeat away to Union Saint Gilloise in Belgium with Rangers legend Mark Hateley even taking aim at the striker amid the frustration and fall-out.
“Colak, for me, was a waste of time,” said Hateley [BBC Sportsound].
“If Morelos is playing there, the ball goes into him. Colak didn’t demand the ball.”
As Alfredo Morelos worked his way back from injury, Antonio Colak certainly suffered with his biggest crime seemingly the fact he isn’t Rangers’ number one striker.
With a perfectly good goal ruled out against Livingston heading into that match, it didn’t seem like it was going Colak’s way but credit to the striker for sticking with it.
Rangers star Antonio Colak given van Bronckhorst backing
Rangers striker Antonio Colak has now scored in the matches against Kilmarnock, USG at home, St Johnstone and PSV Eindhoven and the forward has settled quickly.
Speaking after the match, Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst paid tribute to the striker as he faced yet more questions about Alfredo Morelos.
Morelos remained an unused substitute in the draw with PSV and van Bronckhorst claims it’s because Colak was playing so well.
“He (Colak) is important because again he scores a goal. It was an excellent goal, a great finish, a great touch and the work he does when we don’t have the ball – his energy gives us a lot of times when we can press them at the right times,” said van Bronckhorst.
“So happy with his performances and also with his goals.
“Antonio played really well so I didn’t want to change it to bring him (Morelos) on.
“Antonio was in the game, he was fighting, he was putting on pressure, he was dangerous, he was strong.
“I know we have five substitutes but sometimes you have to sub when you want to change something or get some freshness in and for me, Antonio didn’t need that.”
It’s been a solid start to life at Rangers for Antonio Colak and let’s hope that continues heading into next week with a place in the Champions League on the line.
Meanwhile, Rangers fans are wondering if the club should’ve had a penalty in the 2-2 Champions League draw with PSV Eindhoven.
