Moody Blue Marco Negri wasn’t exactly known for playing with a grin that reached from ear to ear.
The sulky striker could barely even be bothered celebrating most of the 33 goals he’d blasted by New Year during an incredible first six months at Ibrox after his arrival in the summer of 1997. He soon had reason for looking glum as his Rangers career came off the rails following that infamous brush with Sergio Porrini’s forehand during a squash match.
There would be fall-outs and arguments as his three-year stint in Glasgow grew increasingly bitter. Yet when it comes to remembering his last act in a Gers shirt, the Italian insists his one and only Champions League appearance still brings a smile to his face. It may only have lasted 12 minutes as Dick Advocaat’s team slumped 2-0 in Austria against Sturm Graz in October 2000 but for Negri, running out in European football’s top tournament represented the high point of a 17-year career.
There’s plenty of dejected looks being sported by the modern-day Ibrox line-up right now on the back of two brutal drubbings from Celtic and Ajax. But as Gers prepare for Wednesday’s match-up with his compatriots Napoli, Negri says it’s time to turn those frowns upside down as he told Gio van Bronckhorst ’s team to realise how lucky they are. The ex-Ibrox ace told Record Sport: “I’d like to see a team that plays with smiles on their faces – not worried looks. Reaching the Champions League will be the highest some of these players ever go in their careers, so you must enjoy it!
“I only played one game in the Champions League. It was against Sturm Graz when Advocaat was the manager. It was my birthday but it was not a good present as we lost the match 2-0. But I was still proud to have achieved that as playing in the Champions League for me is something similar to being recognised by your national team.
“But Rangers right now look like a team that is worried. The PSV victory was an amazing thing. The team, the manager, the staff all achieved something so special. But I don’t think they’ve recovered the energy from that night. When you play so many big games every three days, it’s not about the physical strain.
“It’s about the mind and how you recover the mental energy. I completely understand how the Old Firm defeat can affect the players’ confidence. But sometimes a great game can be a turning point and help you to be come the team you were against PSV. This game against Napoli can be that match.
“I repeat, I’d like to see some happy faces on the pitch. Show some joy, some confidence and be happy to be on the top level in football because Champions League is the pinnacle. You should have pride that you made it this far.” Rangers didn’t go nearly far enough in their efforts to close down Ajax last week as they were savagely torn apart 4-0 at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Stats showed the Dutch champions had outrun van Bronckhorst’s team by a massive 6km during the 90-minute mauling. Repeat those numbers against Napoli and the result will likely be the same.
While Rangers were trudging back to the changing rooms after being annihilated, the Serie A giants were preparing to wipe the floor with Liverpool in Naples.
Jurgen Klopp’s side were slammed by former Anfield legend Jamie Carragher for failing to put their opponents under enough pressure and Negri has warned his old side could suffer another night to forget if they cannot muster the energy to get in Napoli’s faces. “Napoli are on fire right now,” he said. “They won an amazing match against
Liverpool with a really incredible performance. They dominated Liverpool with their tactics, their technique, their physicality.
“For me, they’re the best team in Italy right now when it comes to the way the start their attacks right from the goalkeeper. So Rangers must be very aware if they decide to go and press Napoli high. Technically, they are very good so they can pass the ball even under pressure.
“Rangers must be aggressive, of course, because they’re coming off the back of two bad games and must show to themselves and to the fans that there is a good reaction. But they must also be on alert for a very good Napoli team with some excellent midfielders who are always moving. You can’t stand still against this team. You have to be aggressive and run, run, run.”
The Italians will be missing last season’s top scorer Victor Osimehen, with the Nigerian sidelined for two months with a hamstring tear.
The bad news, says Negri, is they have a long list of able replacements. It’s a big blow for Napoli that Osimehen is injured but they still have a lot of top forward players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, known as Kvara , Hirving Lozano, Matteo Politano and Giovanni Simeone,” he said.
“The Georgian attacker Kvaratskhelia is the one to watch out for. He’s on fire. It’s been a bit of a surprise as no one expected this from him but he’s the Seria A player of the month and is playing with joy and confidence. He’s young but looks like a veteran. He started out as a defender but has moved up the pitch and really has a strong sense for goals. So Rangers must be aware.
“I know Rangers have been struggling at set-pieces so they really need to watch out because Napoli have a few tricks at corners at free-kicks But the game is at Ibrox. Napoli has a lot of young players who won’t know the Champions League too well. Maybe a great Ibrox atmosphere could shake some legs.”
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