Rangers Advance in Champions League Qualifiers Despite Defensive Concerns
"It's better to be lucky than good." This old adage aptly describes Rangers' journey through the Champions League qualifiers thus far.
The good news for the team is that they are now just two matches away from the league phase, with only Club Brugge of Belgium standing in their way.
Reaching the playoff round is already a notable achievement, considering the challenging draw against Panathinaikos in the previous round and the ongoing squad rebuild under a new head coach.
However, Russell Martin is well aware of the significant improvements needed. It is evident, without delving into complex statistics, that Rangers owe their progress to goalkeeper Jack Butland's performances and the poor finishing of their opponents in the two matches so far.
"We have a lot to work on, but we’re through," Martin told BBC Scotland. "Both goals were outrageous, and we need to defend better. We often find ourselves defending more than we should because we are careless with the ball."
Martin's frustration was clear, particularly after Rangers conceded 27 shots against Plzen, with 21 of those coming from inside their penalty area. Consequently, the Czech side ended up with an expected goals rating of 3.31, while Butland made eight saves, including a world-class stop against Prince Adu.
Given Rangers' strong first-leg performance, one poor display while holding a comfortable 3-0 aggregate lead could be excused, but this pattern of play has become concerning early in the season. In their first six matches, Rangers have conceded 97 shots, averaging 16 per game.
If teams like Plzen, Panathinaikos, Motherwell, or even Dundee had been more clinical, the narrative of this campaign could have been drastically different.
Former Rangers midfielder Ian McCall commented on Sportsound, "Plzen had four clear chances and converted one, all stemming from Rangers' mistakes. They played poorly, but the objective is advancing to the next round. A significant amount of money is at stake, and they must improve their defensive play to avoid giving the ball away in dangerous areas."
Martin also highlighted Rangers' struggle to maintain possession and progress the ball upfield, often returning it to Plzen. "We had some promising moments we failed to capitalize on, and I’m disappointed with the number of shots and chances they had, most of which were self-inflicted," he added. "Our quality on the ball and decision-making need to improve."
Wingers Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama, who were pivotal in the first-leg victory, were largely ineffective before being substituted in the second half, primarily due to Rangers' inability to get the ball to them. The team's most significant passing combinations were between Butland and his two center-backs, with breakdowns occurring before reaching the wide players. Striker Cyriel Dessers received no passes from a central midfielder before leaving the match with a concerning injury after the break.
Aside from advancing, one positive takeaway was Lyall Cameron scoring his first goal for Rangers, capping off a solid individual performance. Butland's form is also encouraging, especially given his struggles last season. Despite their evident flaws, Rangers have shown a knack for scoring crucial goals in European competitions, regardless of game momentum.
However, this approach is not a sustainable strategy in the top tier of European football. Club Brugge will present a tougher challenge, having reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season before losing to Aston Villa.
The teams drew 2-2 at Ibrox in pre-season, suggesting a level of familiarity, although a friendly cannot replicate the intensity of competitive matches. Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson noted on Sportsound, "If Rangers faced a higher-quality opponent, even with a 3-0 lead, this match could have gone to extra time or they could have lost. They cannot afford to play like this against Brugge; they will not miss those types of mistakes."
Your views - get involved
Andy C: It's grim watching. The Gers gave the ball away too often under pressure. Souttar and Butland seem to be the only two who know what they’re doing.
Graham: How long will it take for the players to adapt to the new "style of play" before fans lose faith? Right now, I see no improvements; the last few games have been the worst I've seen in years.
Ray: All that matters is that they are through. If they play poorly against Brugge and still advance, that’s what counts. Good players are needed to execute Martin’s system, and additional funds may assist in that regard.
Brian: Another disappointing performance from this team. I genuinely don't understand what’s happening under Martin, and I fear it will only set the club back further. Sloppy defending and missed opportunities on the counter.
Florentina: There are many negative comments about Rangers, but we’re through to the next round. People forget that our efforts in Europe over the past few years have positively impacted Scotland's coefficient. Well done, Rangers.