Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has been promised “one of the best atmospheres in the world” inside Brondby Stadium on Thursday night.
Gerrard’s former Liverpool team-mate Daniel Agger has told the Gers manager what to expect in the 29,000-capacity ground when the Scottish champions travel to Denmark for their Group A fixture against Brondby.
The Light Blues are on three points, six behind leaders Lyon, one behind Sparta Prague and two ahead of bottom side Brondby, who lost 2-0 at Ibrox last month, and Gerrard goes into matchday four informed by the warning words of retired Brondby and Denmark defender Agger.
“We have to realise this is going to be a different environment,” said Gerrard.
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“It will be a full house. I spoke to Daniel Agger about the Brondby support, how lively they are going to be and how much they are going to be up for the game.
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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says his players know what to expect from Brondby ahead of their Europa League match on Thursday.
“So it is going to be a real tricky tie from that point of view.
“The coach is in a must-win situation so we expect the best version of Brondby, the most aggressive version of Brondby, and with their support in a full house and if Daniel Agger is telling me the truth and it is one of the best atmospheres in the world, we have to ready for a real fascinating challenge.”
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Rangers go into the game on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday which took them four points clear of Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership.
Gerrard said: “The mood is really good. Confidence is high, as you can imagine. It was a really important victory at the weekend, we did it in style.
“But there also has to be a realisation that the Europa League is a different competition, different level and almost a one-off game if you like because it is a must-win in terms of us keeping it in our control to get out of the group.
“So we almost have to move on very quickly from the weekend, take the positives from it and get the boys ready physically, mentally and also with a game plan that is going to be successful.”
Image: Ryan Jack has been sidelined with a calf injury for most of this year
While Ryan Kent is back in the fold after recovering from a hamstring problem, midfielder Ryan Jack is also closing in on a return from a calf injury which has kept him out since February.
Glen Kamara’s ankle knock leaves him with a 50-50 chance of playing.
Gerrard said: “Ryan Kent trained fully with the group yesterday and came through and looked pretty good.
“So he will travel with us assuming he comes through this morning’s session and obviously we will decide on what we do in terms of selection in due course.
“Ryan Jack is training away. He will have an outside chance of being involved at the weekend, depending on how this game goes, but Ryan has been back in full training for a couple of weeks now.
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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Rangers
“I think the international break is super-important for Ryan in terms of getting a load of work in big spaces in his legs and maybe trying to get a game behind closed doors for him to get some minutes under his belt because he has obviously been out for a long time.
“Glen Kamara had a whack on his ankle, he actually had two kicks on the same ankle so there is a little bit of swelling in there.
“There has been a big improvement overnight which gives him that 50 per cent chance and we will wait as long as we need to because he is so important but we will probably know at the back end of today’s session or tomorrow morning whether he is fit to start or not.”
Sakala ‘honoured’ to meet Zambia president at COP26
Zambian forward Sakala handed a Rangers shirt and scarf to the African country’s president as the pair met at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, days after his brilliant display against Motherwell.
Hakainde Hichilema praised the striker for the progress he has made in Scottish football since his summer move from Belgian side Oostende.
Hichilema said: “Caught up with one of our country’s young and talented footballers currently playing for Scotland’s Rangers FC here in Glasgow, Fashion Sakala.
“Fashion represents the great talent in our youths who should be encouraged to continue raising the bar higher and be good ambassadors for the country.
“We have a number of our young talented sportsmen and women both at home and abroad who should be encouraged to achieve more.
“It was touching to hear that Fashion feels his life mirrors ours as he also grew up in the village, worked hard and is now on the world stage.
“God bless our youths.”
Sakala responded on social media: “God bless. Great honour to be invited by the president of our country Zambia.
“Saying ‘thank you’ is not enough for me to express how grateful I am for your invitation to meet you Mr President.”
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