Rangers will need to defend to the level they showed at Ibrox last week if they are to defeat Athletic Bilbao in Spain, says former striker Steven Naismith.
Barry Ferguson and his Rangers players have traveled to Bilbao for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, knowing that the tie hangs in the balance after a 0-0 draw in Glasgow last Thursday.
Naismith says the defensive solidity that was on show at Ibrox will be the minimum requirement to shut out a team that sits fourth in La Liga and is determined to make the European final, which is being held at their own San Mames stadium.
“Having Mohamed Diomande and John Souttar back is going to be a big lift,” Naismith told STV.
“But they will need to put in if not a better defensive performance then the level that was there last Thursday, they’re going to need that this week.
“There’s some quality, quality players in that Bilbao team.”
The former Rangers striker was part of the squad that finished as UEFA Cup runners-up in 2007-08, though a serious knee injury meant he missed the latter stages of the competition.
He sees similarity in the approach that succeeded then, with how Rangers play now, and said that the game was based on discipline out of possession and making the most of opportunities when they come.
“Maybe not backs to the wall but I think it will be similar to Fenerbahce, or to be honest most of their away performances in Europe, where they’ll carry a threat,” he said.
“The last two runs where they’ve gone to the final, a lot of the time that’s been the case. Yes, there’s been more spells in games where they’ve had good possession but the squad I was in that made the final, a lot of it was how disciplined we could be defensively and working off that transition moment.
“This season is very like that.”
SNS GroupFerguson’s team selection for the test in Bilbao will be eagerly anticipated, with the manager having a call to make on who starts in the crucial position up front. Hamza Igamane, Cyriel Dessers and Danilo are all available but Naismith has no doubts about who he would start.
“I don’t think it’s in question,” he said. “I think it will be Dessers.
“I think what he brings, and it’s not just about goalscoring, especially on these nights where you’re going to be out of possession, it’s his work rate.
“He works tirelessly. He never gives up.
“And for someone who has critics in terms of the chances he misses, he always gets chances in games.
“I think that’s how I would see them starting on Thursday for sure.”
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