Giovanni van Bronckhorst issued a blunt response when asked if he was tempted to send Alfredo Morelos on against PSV at Ibrox.
Rangers will go to the Netherlands next week with the tie finely poised after the sides shared four goals in the first meeting of the Champions League play-off showdown at Ibrox. Ibrahim Sangaré opened the scoring before Antonio Colak levelled three minutes later after turning home a lovely low ball from skipper James Tavernier. Tom Lawrence then fired home from a long-range free-kick after a howler from Walter Benitez in the Dutch goal but his blushes were spared by Armando Obispo.
Summer signing Colak put in a tireless shift as he chased down every ball, and was very close to a second on the night but was denied by a good save from the visiting goalkeeper. That's now four goals in four games for the Croatian international. Team-mate Morelos has returned from his long-term injury, but has been restricted to appearances from the bench so far and was an unused sub in the 2-2 draw with Ruud van Nistelrooy's side.
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Asked if he was tempted to throw on the hitman, Van Bronckhorst answered bluntly: “No. [Antonio] Colak played fine, he was very good and dangerous and gave the energy the team needed.
“Antonio’s work rate when we don’t have the ball is really good.
"He scored a great goal and I’m happy for his performance, especially in the Champions League where it’s not only with the ball but also when you don’t have it - you have to bring energy as well."
On the match, he added: “It’s a tie that is still alive, they play at home so hopefully we can get more space and try to go there and go through because that’s our goal - we have to give everything. It was very close. We said before the game that the differences aren’t that big and you saw that.
"PSV had the first goal which is always important but we fought back, scored a really good goal to make it 1-1 and in the last 10, 15 minutes you saw the game we wanted - high tempo with a lot of speed going forward.
“In the second half we made it 2-1 with a free kick from Tom. The goals count, the way you score them doesn’t matter but in the end we lost a goal from a set-piece which is disappointing but the tie is open and we have the chance to go through.
“It’s a high tempo game against a quality side. This is the level we want to compete and PSV are an excellent team and they showed it and we did as well. That’s why you got a 2-2.
“The first goal we were a bit unlucky. With the second we have to be stronger and make sure we have first contact on the set piece.”
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