It doesn’t really make much sense does it? With all due respect to Progres, the Luxembourg part-timers who ended Rangers’ Europa League hopes, how could the Light Blues lose to them but then hold Ligue 1 topflight club Marseille?
Niko Kranjcar’s freekick, he was one of those to hit the woodwork in the European defeat, secured Rangers a draw against the French club at Ibrox.
The Croatian told the Official Website it had been a ‘really good workout’ and would have been seen as a positive result for both clubs.
‘It was a really good workout. Obviously we didn`t have the ball as much as we would perhaps have in the league games, but we were really organised and it felt like we were in control for the majority of the game and didn`t allow them to get between the lines or into spaces. We were positive and dangerous in possession as well, and I think the draw was a fair and positive result for both teams.’
As for his freekick he added: ‘The free-kick was in nice area and once I had hit it I was happy with the way it went in. It`s something I have been working on all my life and have taken them for most of the clubs I have played for. Of course, you have to work on them but like I say it was a nice position and once it went over the wall the dip was there too to take it in.’
Kranjcar spent the majority of his debut season at Ibrox on the sidelines having suffered a serious injury last term.
He’s been used in various positions by Pedro Caixinha during pre-season saying his ‘role has been different’ be that playing off the striker, behind two of them or, as he was against Marseille, on the left. But he’s simply happy to be playing again.
The European exit was a blow but Kranjcar has said that has to be put behind Rangers and focus turned towards success this season, where the Light Blues, the Croatian himself perhaps, look to ‘prove some people wrong.’
‘Unfortunately the European result happened, but fortunately there are still two weeks before the season starts. We want to start getting it right and the only way we can start getting it right is by winning three points in the league, and obviously to try and win in the cup games too. It was a really difficult time for all of us as none of us believed we would be allowed to lose that game. I think it is still there deep down emotionally in us, and we are ready to go and prove some people wrong.’
Also involved was Graham Dorrans who, having always dreamt of doing so; made his Ibrox bow.
He’s told the Official Website what an ‘unbelievable feeling’ it was for him even if it wasn’t Dorrans’ best game personally – it’ll certainly benefit Rangers going forward.
‘It was an unbelievable feeling walking down the tunnel before the game. I thought we did well in the game, it was a good result for us, a good run-out and the boys got a good bit of fitness out of it. We were all really pleased after it. We stayed in the game, we controlled parts of it, we looked solid and we had a few chances in the first half.’
Adding: ‘Personally, it wasn`t my best game but the team looked solid and we were happy with that. They are a good quality side and you saw that as the game wore on, they had a lot more possession, but we did really well and hopefully that will give us confidence going forward.’
On his own personal fitness, having been later into pre-season with Rangers than others after arriving from Norwich, Dorrans said he’s ‘getting there’ with an improvement in training targeted.
Dorrans is now preparing for the Light Blues’ friendly at Sheffield Wednesday, which should give the midfielder another chance for extra minutes, with the Championship side offering up another strong test for the Gers.
He said: ‘We`re taking thousands of fans to Sheffield next week which will be great, and that will be a tough test for us again. We have a closed-door friendly before that so it will be good to get the minutes in, and hopefully we will be ready to go for the first game of the season.’
