Ianis Hagi just “gets it” doesn’t he.
He joined Rangers because he wants the pressure of playing in big games, and, in fairness, he has delivered on more than a few occasions particularly under the lights in mid-week, against Brondby, he was once again the man of the moment.
“Our mentality should have been better from the beginning.”
No excuses, Ianis Hagi knows Rangers have underperformed in Europe so far this season.
Impressive accountability from the 23-year-old who secured a point for Steven Gerrard’s side in Copenhagen.
🎙 @Sports_EmmaD#UEL pic.twitter.com/2x9h1Jcy9R
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 4, 2021
Speaking post match, the Romanian international felt that we didn’t start the game well enough and that, as a Rangers player, the mentality has to be to attack, and win, as reported by Football Scotland:
“We came here to win and I know it’s a tough competition away from home in the Europa League, but we wanted to win.
“I think our mentality should’ve been better from the beginning – we’re Rangers and we have to come here and try to win, not wait for the second half to go out there and attack.
“At least we took that point and now we have to win the last games to be in the next round.
“We wanted to be up in a better position come the game with Sparta Prague, but we still have to win.
“The game’s at Ibrox and we know the fans will be with us and will help us to push us on.
“We have to deliver.”
Personally, I think Hagi is being a bit harsh, Fashion Sakala and Alfredo Morelos both had chances to score and should have done better with them, we also have to realise – as Hagi alludes – that the Europa League is a step up from domestic football and that being able to dominate teams is an altogether harder task.
He is right though in that the players have to deliver against Sparta Prague, they will not be an easy team to beat regardless of the game being at Ibrox – with a win by two clear goals enough to guarantee second place we will need to be a lot more decisive and break the habit of this season by getting the first goal, as Hagi says, they have to deliver.