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Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

PSV v Rangers: Motherwell star backs Dutch side in Euro crunch

Kevin van Veen came through the youth set-up at PSV Eindhoven, and is backing his old club to knock Rangers out of the Champions League qualifying play-offs on Wednesday night.

The Motherwell striker was at Ibrox last Tuesday as the sides thrashed out a 2-2 draw as they head into the second leg on Wednesday.

Ibrahim Sagare opened the scoring for the visitors in 37 minutes, but that lasted just three minutes before Antonio Colak levelled for the Glasgow giants.

Tom Lawrence put Rangers ahead in 70 minutes after keeper Walter Benitez fumbled his free kick, only for PSV's Armando Obispo to head in an equaliser eight minutes later.

Van Veen, 31, remains a fan of his local club, and reckons they have what it takes to win at the Philips Stadion.

Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen reckons PSV will be too strong for Rangers in their Champions League play-off (SNS Group)

He said: "I'm a PSV fan, I'm supporting them 100 per cent. It's my club.

Van Veen was in the away end at Ibrox last week to cheer on his old club (SNS Group)

"I played there for nine years in the academy. It's my club and I follow them. Obviously I can't go to the games but I follow them and I watch every single game, so hopefully PSV wins the game.

"I went to the game at Ibrox, I thought PSV were slightly better. They will be favourites at home, and their keeper helped Rangers as well, but I do think they're going to win at home.

"The atmosphere will be good. I think Ibrox when it's bouncing is a really good atmosphere and I enjoyed that, and when we played there. Watching them last year in Europe was amazing.

"But the PSV stadium is very enjoyable as well, and it will be very busy, packed and a good atmosphere.

"I'm looking forward to the game and I'm definitely watching it."

Van Veen, who is now starring for Motherwell, spent nine years at the Dutch giants' youth academy (SNS Group)

Dutch hero Ruud van Nistelrooy is current PSV boss, and was van Veen's manager at youth level, so he's tipping his old mentor to edge the battle against countryman Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Van Veen said: "I played under Ruud van Nistelrooy, he was my youth team coach and I worked for him for two years. I learned a lot from him.

"We don't have any contact at the moment. unfortunately. but I was a youth team player under him and looked up to him a lot."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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