Philippe Clement says what every other Rangers fan thinks about club's Europa League fixtures
09/21/2024 03:13 PM
Philippe Clement says Rangers have harder fixtures in the Europa League than what some Champions League teams have this season.
The Light Blues lost to Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League third round qualifier and thus dropped into the Europa League for yet another campaign in UEFA’s second tier competition.
Gers went into the draw knowing they would face eight different teams in the new league phase format but perhaps didn’t quite expect the difficulty of the fixtures handed to them.
Rangers face a daunting trip to three-time European champions Manchester United and will also face Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur, who reached the Champions League final in 2019.
And with that, Clement – speaking to Premier Sports after watching his side secure a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dundee in the Premier Sports Cup – thinks Rangers are playing Champions League quality opponents.
Rangers boss Clement on Europa League draw
He said ahead of facing Malmo on Thursday: “To be honest, the group (of fixtures) we have in the Europa League is even more difficult than some Champions League groups, that’s the reality.
“So we’re going to have to work hard every game to get points, we know that. But it’s going to be a big challenge for a lot of lads in our group.
“For a lot of them, it will be the first time at that level so interesting again but they can only learn out of that.”
Who are Rangers playing in Europa League?
As well as Malmo away on Thursday night and the clashes against Manchester United and Spurs, Rangers have some tricky ties to navigate.
They will need to finish in the top 24 teams of the league phase to at least reach the knockout play-off stage but Clement will know he has plenty of work to do.
- Matchday 1 – September 26 – Malmo vs Rangers
- Matchday 2 – October 3 – Rangers vs Lyon
- Matchday 3 – October 24 – Rangers vs FCSB
- Matchday 4 – November 7 – Olympiacos vs Rangers
- Matchday 5 – November 28 – Nice vs Rangers
- Matchday 6 – December 12 – Rangers vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Matchday 7 – January 23 – Manchester United vs Rangers
- Matchday 8 – January 30 – Rangers vs Union Saint-Gilloise
