Giovanni van Bronckhorst satisfied with Rangers efforts and says 'it's only half time'

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst saw his side lose 1-0 to Braga in Portugal in their Europa League quarter-final first leg and says there’s still everything to play for at Ibrox.

Abel Ruiz scored the only goal of the game for the hosts in the 40th minute of a tight game, and the result leaves the tie in the balance ahead of next week’s return match.

Rangers need to win in front of their own fans on Thursday to avoid bowing out of the competition but their manager said there was plenty of football still to play and took encouragement from their display on the road.

“Well, of course, we are only half way,” Van Bronckhorst said. “Of course, we always want a good result to take back to the second game. That’s what we wanted but a 1-0 defeat is quite a small margin.

“We know we’re only halfway. So next week we have a big game. We know which task is ahead of us and we will prepare well.

“Today the performance was, you know, at times was good. We created some chances.

“Also you see the quality they have. I mean, it’s the quarter final. So you’re going to face an opposition who is strong.

“Of course it could have been better but it could have been also worse. So, we have a much better view on their team when you play them and so we’re going to prepare well for next week.”

Though pleased in general with how his side performed in a noisy atmosphere and against an energetic and creative opposition, Van Bronckhorst did rue the few missed chances his side did have.

“In the last phase, we had some opportunities to score goals,” he said. “I think especially the first half. Fashion had a great, great chance, and in transition moments, we were dangerous.

“But it’s all about the delivery in the end and I think that could have been better.

“Also, our set pieces, I think we had two or three set pieces we overhit and normally you can have big chances in those moments. So we have to make sure we do those aspects better next week.”