Former Celtic defender Ramon Vega has warned Rangers not to underestimate Champions League third qualifying round opponents Servette ahead of their first-leg clash at Ibrox tomorrow night.
The Swiss side edged out Genk after a shootout last week having played the vast majority of their second leg in Belgium with 10 men.
And former Switzerland internationalist Vega, who won the treble during a six-month stint at Parkhead in 2001, insists that team unity will prove a substantial barrier to Michael Beale’s side’s progress to the play-off round.
“Although there isn’t really one individual that Rangers need to look out for, that doesn’t make them any less dangerous,” Vega said.
“Servette is a team and it’s all about the collective with them, with every player having a job to do and knowing how to do it.
“Last week they played with ten men for two hours against Genk in Belgium but still came from behind twice before going through after a penalty shoot-out but their players’ tactical awareness is so high that you wouldn’t have noticed – it didn’t affect them at all.
“On Saturday they were away to Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy and took a point with a last-minute goal because this is a team that doesn’t give up.
READ MORE: Rangers' potential Champions League play-off opponents revealed
“There is a lot of money at stake when it comes to qualifying for the Champions League and Swiss clubs – particularly one as small as Servette – need that money every bit as much as Celtic and Rangers so there is every incentive for Weiler’s players.
“However, at the moment Rangers is a wounded tiger and, as we know, a wounded tiger can be very dangerous.”
At The Herald and Times we know the importance of reaching you where it's convenient, which is why we've engaged top sportswriter James Morgan to bring you an irreverent daily update on what's happening in the world of sport. Be it football, golf, rugby, cricket or something more exotic, James will tread where the best stories take him. To get this bespoke piece sent directly to your email inbox for free every day at 5pm, simply take 5 seconds to type in your email here. It's that simple!
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel