Moody Blue Marco Negri wasn’t precisely recognized for enjoying with a smile that reached from ear to ear.
The sulky striker might barely even be bothered celebrating many of the 33 objectives he’d blasted by New Yr throughout an unbelievable first six months at Ibrox after his arrival in the summertime of 1997. He quickly had purpose for wanting glum as his Rangers profession got here off the rails following that notorious brush with Sergio Porrini’s forehand throughout a squash match.
There can be fall-outs and arguments as his three-year stint in Glasgow grew more and more bitter. But with regards to remembering his final act in a Gers shirt, the Italian insists his one and solely Champions League look nonetheless brings a smile to his face. It could solely have lasted 12 minutes as Dick Advocaat’s staff slumped 2-0 in Austria in opposition to Sturm Graz in October 2000 however for Negri, working out in European soccer’s high event represented the excessive level of a 17-year profession.
There’s loads of dejected appears to be like being sported by the modern-day Ibrox line-up proper now on the again of two brutal drubbings from Celtic and Ajax. However as Gers put together for Wednesday’s match-up along with his compatriots Napoli, Negri says it’s time to show these frowns the wrong way up as he informed Gio van Bronckhorst ’s staff to understand how fortunate they're. The ex-Ibrox ace informed File Sport: “I’d wish to see a staff that performs with smiles on their faces – not apprehensive appears to be like. Reaching the Champions League would be the highest a few of these gamers ever go of their careers, so you have to get pleasure from it!
“I solely performed one recreation within the Champions League. It was in opposition to Sturm Graz when Advocaat was the supervisor. It was my birthday but it surely was not an excellent current as we misplaced the match 2-0. However I used to be nonetheless proud to have achieved that as enjoying within the Champions League for me is one thing much like being recognised by your nationwide staff.
“However Rangers proper now appear to be a staff that's apprehensive. The PSV victory was an incredible factor. The staff, the supervisor, the employees all achieved one thing so particular. However I don’t suppose they’ve recovered the vitality from that night time. If you play so many large video games each three days, it’s not in regards to the bodily pressure.
“It’s in regards to the thoughts and the way you get well the psychological vitality. I fully perceive how the Previous Agency defeat can have an effect on the gamers’ confidence. However typically an important recreation generally is a turning level and allow you to to be come the staff you had been in opposition to PSV. This recreation in opposition to Napoli may be that match.
“I repeat, I’d wish to see some completely happy faces on the pitch. Present some pleasure, some confidence and be completely happy to be on the highest stage in soccer as a result of Champions League is the head. It's best to have delight that you simply made it this far.” Rangers didn’t go practically far sufficient of their efforts to shut down Ajax final week as they had been savagely torn aside 4-0 on the Johan Cruyff Enviornment.
Stats confirmed the Dutch champions had outrun van Bronckhorst’s staff by an enormous 6km through the 90-minute mauling. Repeat these numbers in opposition to Napoli and the consequence will doubtless be the identical.
Whereas Rangers had been trudging again to the altering rooms after being annihilated, the Serie A giants had been making ready to wipe the ground with Liverpool in Naples.
Jurgen Klopp’s aspect had been slammed by former Anfield legend Jamie Carragher for failing to place their opponents underneath sufficient stress and Negri has warned his outdated aspect might endure one other night time to overlook if they can't muster the vitality to get in Napoli’s faces. “Napoli are on fireplace proper now,” he mentioned. “They received an incredible match in opposition to
Liverpool with a extremely unbelievable efficiency. They dominated Liverpool with their techniques, their method, their physicality.
“For me, they’re the perfect staff in Italy proper now with regards to the best way the beginning their assaults proper from the goalkeeper. So Rangers should be very conscious in the event that they resolve to go and press Napoli excessive. Technically, they're superb to allow them to move the ball even underneath stress.
“Rangers should be aggressive, after all, as a result of they’re coming off the again of two unhealthy video games and should present to themselves and to the followers that there's a good response. However they have to even be on alert for an excellent Napoli staff with some wonderful midfielders who're all the time transferring. You'll be able to’t stand nonetheless in opposition to this staff. You must be aggressive and run, run, run.”
The Italians might be lacking final season’s high scorer Victor Osimehen, with the Nigerian sidelined for 2 months with a hamstring tear.
The unhealthy information, says Negri, is that they have a protracted record of in a position replacements. It’s an enormous blow for Napoli that Osimehen is injured however they nonetheless have lots of high ahead gamers like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, often known as Kvara , Hirving Lozano, Matteo Politano and Giovanni Simeone,” he mentioned.
“The Georgian attacker Kvaratskhelia is the one to be careful for. He’s on fireplace. It’s been a little bit of a shock as nobody anticipated this from him however he’s the Seria A participant of the month and is enjoying with pleasure and confidence. He’s younger however appears to be like like a veteran. He began out as a defender however has moved up the pitch and actually has a powerful sense for objectives. So Rangers should be conscious.
“I do know Rangers have been struggling at set-pieces in order that they actually need to be careful as a result of Napoli have a number of methods at corners at free-kicks However the recreation is at Ibrox. Napoli has lots of younger gamers who received’t know the Champions League too properly. Perhaps an important Ibrox environment might shake some legs.”
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