Giovanni van Bronckhorst believes Rangers showed character in their defeat to Napoli as he aims to take the positives into the big weekend clash with Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
The Light Blues are yet to get off the mark in the Champions League this season as they suffered defeat in Naples. The Serie A league leaders - who are yet to taste defeat domestically or in Europe - got off to a flier with Giovanni Simeone firing home a double for the hosts inside 15 minutes. Leo Ostigard added a third with a stunning header to make it 20 group stage goals for Napoli with one game to be played. For Rangers, they have shipped 19 and only scored one.
They face Ajax at Ibrox next week in the final game of their return to Europe's top table. They still have a very slim chance of finishing third in the group over the Dutch giants - but will need to win by a five goal margin after the 4-0 defeat on matchday one gives Alfred Schreuder's side a big advantage on the head to head front while they boast a much better goal difference.
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Asked if he can take positives from the defeat in Naples, the Rangers boss told BT Sport : "Definitely, a defeat is a defeat but the way we lost today after two early goals within 15 minutes. I think we gave them too easily. After that I think we reacted really well and stayed in the game. We could have scored with [Alfredo] Morelos just before half-time.
I think Malik [Tillman] also had a chance to score but second half we showed character and were well organised defensively. We didn't give any big chances away and were creating chances to score. Two moments from Morelos. In the end you concede the third goal via a set piece but I think 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 play against the leaders of Italy and they are flying at the moment and I think we gave them a really good game. The two goals in the first 15 minutes were too easy but I think we created the most chances in a Champions League game this season today so that is very positive but we created some big moments for ourselves today but we didn't take the big moments to score a goal.
"We take the positives out of this game and be ready for Saturday. A big game for us at home after of course dropping two points last weekend. We have to be ready and that is what we are going to do in the next couple of days. Recover well and make sure we are ready to face Aberdeen at home. "
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