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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Blair Meikle

Bialystok boss expects tough Europa League test from 'huge club' Rangers

Adrian Siemieniec (Image: Newsquest)

Jagiellonia Białystok boss Adrian Siemieniec is excited about the challenge of facing Rangers in the Europa League.

However, he admitted that he would have liked an easier draw for the third qualifying round.

The Polish side will meet Rangers at home for the first leg of the tie.

Rangers are set to face Jagiellonia Białystok after a 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Friday night.

This will be their first European match under new manager Derek McInnes.

He has stressed the importance of qualifying from both a football and financial perspective.

Siemieniec has acknowledged that the Scottish side is a "huge club, legendary" not just in Scotland, but across the British Isles and Europe.

He said: "A club like that has to face enormous pressure and huge expectations.


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"We have to analyse the facts and what we see on video, not focus on opinions."

Siemieniec believes that Rangers are the favourites to progress and avoid the drop into the Conference League.

He said: "From the perspective of European experience, this is the first time I'm facing a British team.

"The analysis is very interesting.

"We saw a clear direction in terms of the kinds of players this team is built on, as well as the specifics of football based on intense, physical play."

The Polish manager highlighted the threats posed by Rangers, including their strength, physicality, and the threat they pose at set pieces.

He said: "We should expect danger on set pieces, intensity in pressing, as well as a team that feels great in the air and in duels."

He also noted the challenge that Rangers' physical style of play will pose to his team.

He said: "In that regard, it's very demanding—the physical side of this two-legged tie will be very tough for us.

"We can't lose our mentality, our idea, because it'll be really hard to compete with Rangers."

The winners of the third round tie will face a play-off with Larne or Iberia Tbilisi to reach the league phase of the competition this term.

He said: "We have to know our strengths, but also the opponent's, to compete as best and most effectively as possible.

"It's a very demanding opponent due to its characteristics and the specifics of its football, its intensity."

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