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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Dejan Stankovic in mystic Rangers premonition as Red Star Belgrade boss knew of Euro fate

Confident Dejan Stankovic reckons Red Star Belgrade have got the best possible draw after predicting Rangers would come out of the hat.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst masterminded the shock of the round to send favourites Borussia Dortmund out of the Europa League with a 6-4 aggregate win.

That put Rangers in the hat for the last 16, with a tough test in Serbia next up as the Premiership champions look for a deep run in the competition.

However, that didn't phase Red Star boss Stankovic.

With the likes of Barcelona, Porto and Sevilla among the potential opponents he insists this is the best draw they could have hoped for.

He told Serbian outlet Danas : "It could have gone much worse, I don't know if it could have been better.

"I watched Rangers and Borussia, (and it was) two spectacular games. We know what to do, this is a chance for all of us. "

Stankovic also revealed he had a feeling that his side would be drawn against the Scottish Premiership champions.

The Red Star boss continued: "We played well in the group stage, we have the right to hope and we will not give up.

"This is an opponent against whom we can do our best and hope for something good.

"If you saw my gesture after the draw, it was because I told everyone before it that it would be us against Rangers.

"When the first ball with Rangers came out, and then Red Star, I said that I had finished the job and that I could go, but it was a joke."

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