Rangers have just achieved 10 in a row. 10 games without a win but amazingly they have also just achieved history, they are the first Scottish team to qualify for the second phase of the Champions League. It’s a funny old game.
Played 6 Won 1 Drawn 4 Lost 1, 7 points. It’s not form that would normally take you through to the Champions League second phase but it was enough for us.
I’ve personally never had a feeling like the one I had last night when the result came in from Bratislava. I’ve seen Rangers win many league titles and cups, I thought the feeling in May when we won the league title at Easter Road could not be topped but it was last night at full time, what a feeling.
Congratulations to all the players but most of all congratulations to Alex McLeish who I’m sure has managed his last game for Rangers. After all he has been through in the last few weeks he deserved to bow out in glory, I couldn’t be more happier for him.
Inter Milan fielded a weakened team but make no mistakes, this was still a strong team and they had Adriano and Martins up front. Rangers started well at Ibrox and Lovenkrands, Buffel, Ferguson and Burke in particular looked up for it.
It’s easy for anyone to see the difference that Buffel’s presence makes to the team and the other players seem to strive when he is there, especially Ferguson. McLeish got his tactics spot on by putting Lovenkrands up front for pace with Buffel feeding balls through to him.
It was Inter Milan who took the lead however and it was the type of goal we’ve been losing all season. A goal from the set piece, this time a corner. Miihajlovic swung in a corner and the ball almost went straight into the net but Waterreus punched it out. He sent in another corner seconds later and this time Adriano got on the end of it and sent it into the net, 1-0 Inter.
Rangers showed great spirit and determination and like the last game against Porto they pulled it back to 1-1, only this time they didn’t leave it as long. Buffel sent a superb ball through to Lovenkrand, it was timed to perfection. Lovenkrands took the ball at great pace towards the penalty box and kept a cool head to slot it past Toldo.
Lovenkrands has came in for a lot of stick but he always seems to come up with vital goals in important matches. This goal was classic Lovenkrands and he needs to show more of this.
Alex McLeish didn’t make and subs during the 90 minutes and was clearly happy with the eleven players he sent out. Inter Milan had Zanetti sent off for a second yellow card in the dying minutes but it didn’t make much difference to the game.
Rangers played out the last few minutes of the game and Inter were happy to let them pass about as they were happy with the draw. The final whistle went but the game was still going on in Bratislava and the bears had a few agonising minutes to wait but eventually the news came through that the game ended 0-0 and Ibrox erupted.
It was a special moment for the players and the fans. Rangers are now amongst Europe’s elite and await the draw on Friday week where we could come up agains the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool, Lyon, Bayern Munich or Arsenal.
Player Ratings
Ronald Waterreus 6
Didn’t have much to do.
Fernando Ricksen 7
Looked much more like his old self.
Ian Murray 7
Determind performance.
Soti Kyrgiakos 6
Could have done better at the goal but overall he done well.
Marvin Andrews 7
Committed performance as usual.
Chris Burke 8
Great shift from the youngster who seemed determind to prove he deserves to be at Rangers after rumours at the weekend he will be let go.
Hamed Namouchi 6
Could’ve been more positive but done well.
Bob Malcolm 7
Often takes a lot of stick but had a great game here, passed well.
Barry Ferguson 8
Plays better with Buffel in the team alongside him and had a great game here.
Thomas Buffel 9
Simply superb, created the goal and was at the centre of everything Rangers created.
Peter Lovenkrands 8
Much more like the old Lovenkrands, took goal well.
Manager Rating
Alex McLeish – 9/10, Got his line up spot on.
Opponent Rating
Roberto Mancini – 6/10, Happy with the draw.