Say that on Wednesday, a fiesty, competitive game develops in Eindhoven with the scores still level deep into the second half and Rangers are needing more up front, will the manager feel that he can turn to, and trust Alfredo Morelos?
His needless and unnecessary red card against Hibs on Saturday went a long way to ensuring that the Gers would not leave the capital with all three points, especially given the backs to the wall nature of the last 15 minutes or so.
Once John Lundstram was sent off it was going to be tough. At that stage, the remaining 10 players had to be responsible, to work harder, smarter and do what was required to hold on to the 1-2 lead.
Morelos failed on all of those accounts.
All that said – given we’re down to 10 and it’s Collum, Morelos shouldn’t be getting involved at all. He’s not a kid now. ‘Daft boy’ excuse no longer valid.
As much as we all know it was unfair with JL, you have to use your head.
— Heart & Hand Podcast (@ibroxrocks) August 20, 2022
Soon, the focus will turn to Wednesday’s massive Champions League decider and it is now even more likely that Antonio Colak will start up front. There was discussion from the fans in terms of Morelos offering more and possibly being prepared for a start in the Netherlands but this latest set back does his chances no favours at all, especially in the eyes of the manager.
He was content with his decision to play the Croatian for the full game last week at Ibrox against PSV and that may have been a factor of frustration for the Colombian international but he simply cannot vent that by throwing his arms around and being petulant on the pitch with a couple of minor incidents happening before the red card at Easter Road.
His reputation has and will impact him at times but after so much progress under GvB, no-one needed a reminder of the past but that is what we got at the weekend.
Morelos has to respond by making a positive impact on the pitch for Rangers but due to his own actions, that opportunity may just pass him by in Eindhoven this week.