Tonight was already going to be a highly charged, emotional affair but that has been multiplied with Jimmy Bell’s untimely passing, something that Gio van Bronckhorst is acutely aware of.
Yesterday, the manager paid a lovely, hearfelt tribute to his colleague and friend – a relationship that first began back in 1998.
It was Jimmy Bell who gave Gio the warmest of welcomes on his Ibrox return late last year and right to the end, up until last Sunday at Parkhead they were together representing the club in their duty.
As with everyone, it was a deep hurting shock that hit the dressing room. Not only had they lost of of our own, they lost an integral part of the backroom set-up and a man that meant so much to the players because of who he was and how much he contributed.
When asked of how the team responds and the feeling, GvB stated:
“We talked about him, we shared stories we had about Jimmy, our personal stories and today we look ahead to Leipzig tomorrow. It was a really big game already but we’re all very determined to go out tomorrow and give everything we can to make everyone proud, especially tomorrow to make Jimmy proud.”
“Today we are back and we are going to try to prepare as good as possible for tomorrow.”
🎙️ PRESS CONFERENCE: Giovanni van Bronckhorst spoke to the media ahead of Thursday's @EuropaLeague semi-final at Ibrox.#UEL pic.twitter.com/D1QYFqoI6D
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) May 4, 2022
Belief
There was already a feeling of determination and belief about the squad to get the job done against Leipzig, but now the emotion is added and the boys in blue will be giving their all to do it for Jimmy.
He will be in everyone’s thoughts and at the forefront of the players’ motivation to get to the Seville final.
As the manager said, they will give everything. Jimmy Bell would have been proud already, he was a lifelong true blue but a victory tonight will bring an even greater sense of satisfaction.