Union Saint-Gilloise's shock troops claim they know all about Rangers – from the PlayStation. But boss Karel Geraerts has warned his team must be switched on if they’re to seal a spot among the Champions League big boys.
Defender Siebe Van Der Heyden revealed last week he’d got the lowdown on the Ibrox outfit after coming across their digital alter egos while playing FIFA 22 on his gaming console. But there’s nothing virtual about the reality of tonight’s clash, with £40million on the line for the side who can complete their qualifying mission and reach the group stage.
The pressure is on Rangers to make sure they hit all the right buttons against Union and build on last year’s Europa League run. Geraerts is now at the controls of the Brussels outfit after Felice Mazzu, who masterminded the newly-promoted side’s bold title bid last term, was lured away by Belgian giants Anderlecht to replace Vincent Kompany.
Union lost out on league glory after Club Brugge snatched the crown in the end-of-season play-offs, leaving Geraerts to conclude there is no cheat code to success at this level. But he’s hoping a glitch in the matrix could help his side cause an upset against Rangers.
He said: “As a team, we’ve come from very far in a short space of time. Just two years ago we were playing in the second division. Last year we returned to the top flight and did well.
“Now comes the next step. The players deserved to qualify for Europe after performing so well. We’ve drawn Rangers in the qualifying stages, this is a big club. The players may know them from the Play Station, they will know them from TV – but on Tuesday it’s up to them to get a result. I’m convinced they will play without fear or stage fright on the pitch.
“We must not forget we also have some players with international experience. Rangers are the favourites. They have more than us when you talk about budget, stadium, history. They’re a big team, so it’s up to them to handle that situation. For us, we’ll go on the field playing with our qualities, being proud to make a good game but showing all our respect to Rangers.
“Once we go on that field – and I’ve said this to my players from the start of pre-season, no matter if it’s a friendly game or a Champions League qualifier – I want us to go out to win. It will be 11 v 11 and that’s the message I’ve given to my players.”
Geraerts has opted for more traditional means of swotting up on tonight’s opponents. He’s made use of the inside track his goalkeeping coach, former Celtic squad filler Logan Bailly, has offered, while he’s been in touch with ex-Ibrox star Thomas Buffel to seek advice for facing the Light Blues.
But Geraerts needed no filling in on new arrival Rabbi Matondo after his side saw first-hand how dangerous the Wales international was during a season on loan at Cercle Brugge. The Union gaffer said: “They have a lot of good players.
“We’ve analysed them and they are a modern football team. It’s not like 20 years ago when it was long balls and fighting football. This is a team who plays from behind, with good movements and combinations. They have a lot of speed with players who go forward. It’s a very good army they have.
“One players we know well is Matondo. He played here in Belgium for Cercle Brugge. He made a very good impression last year when he played against us, so Rangers are able to take the best players out of the Belgian league and take them to Glasgow.
“The top Belgian clubs weren’t able to keep them, so that means Rangers have a lot of possibilities. Logan has been able to tell us about Scottish football and Rangers as he spent a long time with Celtic and told us a lot about the derby.
“But he also told us Rangers are a team who play football, not the kick and rush stuff. He could only say positive things about that period in Scotland. It’s good for us to have someone in our dressing room who knows how it is with Rangers.
“But, of course, in Belgium we love football and follow all the leagues abroad. If you speak about Rangers or other teams like Celtic, then we know these teams. We also had a good player from Belgium, Buffel, who played in Scotland.
“He said they are a really good team with a big crowd and big names, so we will show them a lot of respect.”
