LONG-SERVING Eintracht Frankfurt right back Timothy Chandler believes he can see numerous similarities between the German outfit and their Scottish rivals Rangers both on and off the park - and admitted he expects the Europa League final to be closely contested.
Both clubs have emerged from difficult periods in their history in the last few years and both have surprised European football this season by beating far wealthier rivals and reaching Seville.
Chandler, the 29-times capped United States internationalist, also feels the game plans which Oliver Glasner and his counterpart Giovanni van Bronckhorst have used on the continent have been virtually identical.
And the 32-year-old knows that lifting just the second European trophy in their history and qualifying for the Champions League group stages next season will be momentous for both the Walstadion and Ibrox teams.
“It is the greatest game in Frankfurt’s history in recent years,” he said. “I am so excited, Frankfurt is so excited and I hope the whole of Germany will be cheering for us to win the trophy. If we could do that it would be great. “It means everything to me. It will be the greatest game of my life. If I could bring the trophy back to Frankfurt then that would simply be amazing. I struggle to even think about it if we were to win the cup and return home with it.
“If it was to happen then it would be a dream to be in the Champions League for the first time with Frankfurt. Back in 2016 we were fighting against relegation to stay in the Bundesliga. Since then we have won the German Cup and made real progress in Europe.” Chandler added: “Rangers play quite a similar style to us. They are very aggressive and I think it will be a very exciting game for the fans of both sides and the neutrals.” “We started looking at the Rangers games from Monday as part of the video analysis. They are very aggressive and have very quick players in the front areas. We know they are a good team and will be a very difficult opponent.
“I played with DaMarcus Beasley (the former Rangers winger) in America. He was a very nice guy who helped me in the international squad. He was a very funny guy and he always spoke about his time at Rangers fondly.
“Rangers will be a tough opponent. They have kicked out some big opponents in Dortmund and Leipzig from Germany, so we know how dangerous they can be.
“I saw their games against Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig. They played very well and got on the front foot. That has been the way they have adopted things in the Europa League and the reason why they have been so successful and have gotten this far.
“They are a strong team at home, but they have also shown they can get results away from home as well.”
