Michael Beale says Rangers ready for ‘intriguing’ derby as he points to Celtic struggles and bites at ‘hammering’ claim
The boss is already looking ahead to the weekend’s big derby on home soil.
The Ibrox gaffer was hoping to match Gio van Bronckhorst’s feat of leading the Light Blues into Europe’s top tournament. But it ended up being a painful night against PSV as his team were outclassed in Eindhoven. Peter Bosz’s side were held to a 2-2 draw last week but there was no stopping them at home, running riot as Ismael Saibari’s double was followed by goals from Luuk de Jong, Joey Veerman and a calamitous Connor Goldson OG.
“I thought there were moments in the second half and some other opportunities didn’t go for us but it is obviously bitterly frustrating. An apology to the fans that came across. They stuck with the team in both legs and they expect a little bit more than what they got.”
The Dutch side now march on to take a place in the draw for the group stages – while Gers will have to be consoled with a place in Friday’s hat for the Europa League.
But Beale admits his team will still have to improve if they’re to survive in Uefa’s second-tier tournament. “We’ll now see what the Europa League draw brings,” he said. “We are not going to deny being disappointed.
“I think we drew the hardest opponent we could have drawn at this stage of the competition in PSV. Going into the Europa League, it looks as strong as ever.
“There are teams like Liverpool and others we could face. So we’ll see what the draw brings. But for this team coming together, after a lot of change, this game came far too soon. That’s what’s clear.
“I think this group has got a way to go. It’s a new team and the most important thing for our fans and myself is that we get there through our domestic competition.”
Beale wasn’t keen to agree his side had suffered a hammering in Holland. But the timing couldn’t be worse with Sunday’s opening Old Firm derby next up. The Londoner has vowed to pick his side up, though, for the visit of Brendan Rodgers’ team to Ibrox.
“Ok that’s your words [hammering],” said Beale, biting back. “But they were ruthless. The level between this competition and the domestic is different.
“We’ll dust ourselves off. Sunday is a huge game but it’s the perfect one for us to go into. The team we’re playing against aren’t coming in a fantastic place either so it’s an intriguing derby and everything is to play for.
“Starting the season, going into this international break, we obviously wanted to make the Champions League but we’ve fallen short. We also wanted to be in the quarters of the Viaplay Cup and top of the league – and the last of those things is in our hands.
“Now our focus has to be on that. But it’s clear as a team we need to improve at this level. PSV are an excellent team – it’s the strongest one I’ve seen from this club in a while.”
The only positive was the display of Jack Butland, with the former England keeper pulling off a string of vital saves as he spared his team an even more damaging defeat.
Beale said: “Jack has shown he’s a quality keeper. I think he’ll be a fantastic signing on a free transfer with his age and his capabilities.”
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