Gio van Bronckhorst vowed to take the positives from Rangers’ defeat to Napoli in the Champions League to get their domestic season back on track as praised his side for showing character and refusing to crumble after shipping two early goals to the Serie A leaders.
Giovanni Simeone netted a quickfire double to put the Italians a couple of goals up in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium inside the first 16 minutes. But there was no repeat of the mauling at the hands of Liverpool and the visitors spurned chances of their own to get back into the game with Alfredo Morelos guilty of missing a sitter.
Leo Ostigard headed in a late third for the home side to inflict a fifth Group A defeat on the Light Blues who now face Ajax at home in their final game. John Lundstram will be suspended for that clash while Leon King could be doubtful after picking up an injury.
But Van Bronckhorst hopes to use the performance to take into Saturday’s huge Scottish Premiership clash against Aberdeen as they look to bounce back after being held to a draw at home to Livingston on Saturday to leave them trailing Celtic by four points.
The Dutchman told BT Sport after the clash in the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium: “We take the positives out of this game and be ready for Saturday in a big game for us at home after dropping two points on Saturday. We have to be ready and that’s what we’re going to do to make sure we recover in the next couple of days and be ready for Aberdeen. It’s a big step up for us to the level we’re facing at the moment and we have to take the positives.
“A defeat is a defeat but the way we lost today after losing two early goals within the first 15 minutes… we gave the goals away too easily. Twice it was two v one in the centre with our centre backs and the movement of the strikers was excellent to go into the zones to be dangerous.
“After that we reacted really well, stayed in the game and could have scored to make it 2-1 just before half time with Alfredo Morelos and Malik had a chance. In the second half we showed character, we were well organised defensively and didn’t give big chances away and created a lot of opportunities with two moments from Morelos to make it 2-1.
“In the end we lost the third goal to a set piece but we can take a lot of positives from the game although a loss is still a loss. It’s a step up, you have to step up your level. We’re playing the leaders of Italy who are flying and we gave them a really good game apart. The goals we conceded in the first 15 minutes were too easy but we created the most chances in a Champions League game this season so that’s very positive but we didn’t take them.”
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