‘We have to leave with our heads held up high’: Under-pressure Giovanni van Bronckhorst urges Rangers to salvage something from their miserable Champions League campaign against Ajax next week as Dutchman says they made it ‘too easy’ for Napoli
- Rangers lost their fifth game out five in the Champions League away in Naples
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst said he wants his players to depart with heads up high
- They have a final chance at Ibrox next week to get points on the board in group
Giovanni van Bronckhorst urged Rangers to go out of the Champions League with their heads held high.
A 3-0 loss to Serie A leaders Napoli condemned the Ibrox side to a fifth straight defeat in Group A.
Fourth in the group, Van Bronckhorst’s side need to beat Ajax by five goals at Ibrox next week to snatch third place and Europa League football after Christmas.
Napoli striker Giovanni Simeone scored two goals in the opening 16 minutes against Rangers
An unlikely scenario, the Rangers boss admits he will settle for a final push to put points on the board and end a miserable campaign with a positive result.
‘It’s a chance to get the first points,’ said the Dutchman. ‘We have to leave the tournament with our heads held up high. It’s a chance for us to play at home and get the three points at home. In every game we have played so far we were right in the game.
‘Two times we gave it away in the last 20 minutes with the red card against Napoli and the three penalties.
Giovanni van Bronckhort said his side made it too easy for Napoli to capitalise early on in game
‘Against Liverpool they turned up the level a little bit with the subs they had, but we have to give everything and make sure we have a result we can be proud of at home against Ajax. That’s our task – to get something out of the game.’
Napoli set a new club record of 12 straight wins in all competitions after striker Giovanni Simeone – son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego – struck twice inside 16 minutes.
A Rangers rally in the second half saw Alfredo Morelos miss a glorious chance to pull one back before defender Leo Ostigard quelled hopes of a fightback with the third goal 10 minutes from time.
Despite resting key players Luciano Spalletti’s classy side all but sealed first place in Group A ahead of their final game against Liverpool at Anfield.
It was another chastening night in the Champions League for Rangers, who have lost all five group games
Under pressure after a string of insipid displays Van Bronckhorst praised the character of his side in the second half and called for realism.
‘You can’t imagine the opponents we were facing at this moment in this group. We think about our performances, of course. But we have to be realistic and see what kind of opponents we are playing against. That’s always the case when you are in Champions League and the level we are facing at the moment in this group is immense.
‘If you look at the results elsewhere there are big teams – Juventus and Barcelona – who didn’t qualify for the Champions League. That’s all I can say. The level we face any the moment is very high. You have to be ready for 90 minutes and I think the moments we created in the game, we should have taken.
Van Bronckhorst urged his side to finish strongly in the group next week against Ajax at Ibrox
The loss of two Simeone goals in five minutes repeated a recent trend and irked the Rangers boss.
‘For us to give those kinds of goals away in Champions League is too easy. I think the reaction we showed afterwards was very positive. It’s not easy to come here and concede two early goals and still have to play 75 minutes. But I think that was very positive, the reaction of my team and the character they showed to still be in the game.
‘In this game we created the most chances in the Champions League this season, to score away from home in Naples. That is very positive. But the chances only count when you score them. They took their first two chances and we didn’t.
‘That is very disappointing because I think the players gave everything. They showed character and at 2-0 they were pushing to get something out of the game but in the end we didn’t.’
Leo Ostigard scored Napoli’s third late on as they continued their excellent form this season
