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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Mark Walker

Rangers told to target 'hopelessly out of form' Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic

Rangers encouraged to target 'hopelessly out of form' Ajax star

RANGERS should target Ajax captain Dusan Tadic because he's 'hopelessly out of form' revealed former Real Madrid and Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart.

The Ibrox side will start their Champions League campaign tomorrow with a trip to the Netherlands. While Rangers were losing 4-0 to bitter rivals Celtic, Ajax warmed up for the game with a bloodless 4-0 win against Cambuur.

But the Amsterdam club's captain Tadic has been criticised this season after a string of below-par performances. And van der Vaart - who won 109 caps for his country - reckons clubs will target the 33-year-old ex-Southampton player.

He said: "Tadic is hopelessly out of form at the moment.

"He was given a few passes with his back to the opponent. Before, once he had had it, you couldn't get the ball off him. Now he just falls over.

"I think he is a great player and he has meant so much to Ajax. He used to push his backside out and hold onto the ball, now he's getting knocked over by Cambuur players. It's not a good look for him and is a weakness for Ajax."

And former Celtic star Pierre van Hooijdonk reckons he's not helped by being played out of position.

He said: "I have no idea why Alfred Schreuder is playing him out on the right wing.

"You have someone who has been - and actually still is - of such fantastic value to Ajax and you put him on the right wing?

"He still has a couple of years at the absolute top level to go, so you have to let him play on the position where he can really add value, the left wing.

"He's not a No.10 or a striker, you have to play him as a left winger."

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