Rangers boss Gio van Bronckhorst admits he’ll have to ring the changes to his knackered line-up at St Mirren on Sunday to keep his top stars fresh for next week’s do or die Braga clash.
The Ibrox outfit are already facing an uphill struggle to reach the Europa League’s last four after falling to an Abel Ruiz strike at the Estadio Municipal on Thursday night.
Now the Gers gaffer has confessed his team are feeling the effects of a sapping Europa League evening.
This weekend’s trip to Paisley will be Rangers’ 54th game of a gruelling season.
With their league hopes all but over, Gers’ Euro ambitions have now taken on even greater importance and van Bronckhorst confessed he will have to hold back some of his key men against Saints to ensure they’re ready for the rematch with Carlos Carvalhal’s men.
He said: “We don’t have any major concerns for Sunday. Of course, we have players who gave everything and are really tired.
“Some players are playing a lot of games in the last week and months.
“So obviously these games in Europe will take a lot out of the body, energy-wise and physically-wise. But we have to prepare for Sunday now.
“Of course squad depth is important. We also made some changes yesterday. It’s quite impossible to play with a fixed eleven in these weeks with so many games, important games.
“So we have to rotate where we can and use the depth of the squad.”
Gers started brightly at Braga ’s striking Quarry hope, carving out a clutch of early chances during an open start to the game.
But when Light Blues’ backline began to creak, Braga were quick to take advantage.
Van Bronckhorst admits he was relieved to be heading back to Glasgow with just a one-goal deficit but insists his side are far from dead and buried.
He said: “Of course we didn’t want to lose but you have to take back a result when you are still in the tie. We are.
“Yesterday we had the possibilities to get a better result. At times we looked dangerous, especially in transition.
“The last 20 minutes of the game, we were pushing for the 1-1. You could see the margins are very close against a quality team.
“They have shown that also in moments of the game. But still we have all to play for next week. We know at home at Ibrox we can have the result we want.
“It was quite a close call on Thursday. It could have been a draw, we also created some chances to score.
“But in the end we weren't as clinical as we wanted to be. A 1-0 defeat away in Europe without away goals, it means a win at home with a two-goal difference sends us through.
“But we are still only halfway and all to play for come Thursday.”
Rangers have roared past Borussia Dortmund and Red Star Belgrade to reach the quarter-finals and the Dutchman wants the Ibrox support to put on another epic night as they look to hush Braga’s Euro dreams.
He said: “They are always crucial. The support we feel at home, but also abroad, is amazing. Everywhere we go, we have a lot of support behind us so that always feels really good.
“Of course with 50,000 people next week the atmosphere at Ibrox in Europe is amazing. We just have to make sure we get the performance we want and after the game are through to the semi-final.
“That’s our goal and that’s our only goal we have next week.”
Before that, Gers must negotiate Sunday’s Buddies clash, where Stephen Robinson’s side will be looking to snatch a place in the top six.
Van Bronckhorst said: “It is a close call for spot number six, so they are there. Of course they have some teams above them so the results on Saturday will define whether they are playing for a top six spot or not.
“They have shown in the past they can have good results against big teams. So we have to be ready on Sunday and we prepare for the game as well as we always do.”
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