BORNA Barisic has expressed confidence that Rangers can secure third place in their Champions League section “at least” despite the Ibrox club suffering a third straight defeat.
Barisic and his team mates slumped to a 2-0 loss in their Group A match against six-time champions Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
Giovanni’s van Bronckhorst’s side remain in bottom spot without any points and are in danger of missing out on the last 16 and a place in the Europa League knockout rounds.
But their Croatian left back feels Rangers, who were thrashed 4-0 by Ajax away in their opening outing last month, have improved with every game they have played in Europe’s premier club competition.
He is hopeful the rematch with Jurgen Klopp’s side in Govan next Wednesday will be a far closer encounter and remains optimistic Rangers can avoid finishing last.
“I think that it was the best game of the three that we have played,” he said. “It is Champions League level, our group is very tough, all the top teams are in it. We need to grow, we need to learn. I think we are doing that.
“In the second-half we played much better. Maybe they didn’t press too much. But if we keep the ball for a little bit longer it is easier for us to play. I also think that we can press them better.
“They are a top team. But we are growing, we are learning and I think we will be much better at Ibrox. It is our home, our crowd. They are a 12th player for us.”
“When we play at home it will be a little bit easier for us. But we also need to realise that all these teams play in front of away crowds, in front of 50,000, 60,000, 70,000 people. There are used to it.
“But it (Ibrox) is still the best (atmosphere) by far for me. With all due respect to everyone, I thought Anfield had a good atmosphere. But for me personally, not just because I am playing at Rangers, it wasn’t better than Ibrox.
“Maybe it’s because I have played in so many big games, played on so many big nights, but for me Ibrox is the best still.”
Asked if he thought that Rangers could still finish third, he said: “Of course we feel that. The next game will be important. But we will fight to the end and try to go at least into the Europa League.”
