Rangers

Scott Arfield says Rangers meeting Liverpool in the Champions League "captures the attention".

The Ibrox side will face last season's finalists as well as Ajax and Napoli in Group A this autumn.

Arfield played against Liverpool as a Burnley player.

"The three of them are amazing cities, so we're definitely looking forward to going to them but the one that captures the attention is Liverpool because it's closer to home and we know our following is going to be sensational," said Arfield.

"They've been finalists for numerous years, they're one of the best teams in the world and now we can show what we're all about.

"As always, we think we can be very competitive. It was a great draw for us with a lot of big dogs in there, which when you get to this stage of the competition there's going to be."

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Rangers return to Scottish Premiership business on Saturday with the visit of Ross County.

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Borna Barisic tells his Rangers teammates they will have to raise their game in the group stage of the Champions League. (Record), external

Rangers' Champions League opponents Ajax are confident winger Antony, 22, will not be sold to Manchester United despite the latest £76m bid. (Metro), external

Rangers youth Stephen Kelly, in the last 12 months of his contract, has been told he can move on but the midfielder has vowed to maintain his work ethic while still at the club. (Sun), external

Image source, BBC Sport

Despite being left out of the Rangers squad that travelled to Eindhoven on Wednesday, striker Alfredo Morelos hasn't been shy in passing his congratulations on to his team-mates.

The Colombian was omitted from the travelling party due to fitness and attitude issues, but manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has vowed to get the 26-year-old fit and firing again.

"Morelos qualified for the Champions League as well," the Dutchman said following the PSV triumph.

"He is still a Rangers player and I will push him the way I can to get him fit and get the Morelos back we all want."

Rangers have reached the Champions League group stage after Wednesday's 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands sealed a 3-2 aggregate play-off win.

Here's how BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound pundits reacted...

Former Rangers winger Neil McCann: "What a result for Scottish football. This is a huge result. The only thing that matters is being in that draw. I can't understate how massive this is. They'll pile into the auditorium and watch the draw.

"It was just a really good, solid workmanlike performance. The performance is another marker that Rangers can go away from home in European competition and get big results, even when not playing well."

Former Rangers forward Steven Thompson: "PSV started at such a rate of knots but Rangers showed composure and a lot of experience to find a way back into the game and had spells of control.

"That team defended ever so well. They got themselves into a shape. They did all the right things when you're away from home and you're trying to run down the clock. It's just a phenomenal result. A sensational evening for Rangers."

Giovanni van Bronckhorst says reaching the Champions League group stage represents a "financial opportunity" for Rangers. (Herald - subscription required), external

Alfredo Morelos, left out of Rangers' squad for the Champions League play-off-clinching win at PSV Eindhoven, said "we are back" on social media following Wednesday's 1-0 win. (Sun)

Morelos congratulated "my team" following Rangers' 3-2 aggregate win. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Fellow Rangers striker Antonio Colak could not hold back his tears after scoring the goal that sealed a Champions League group stage place. (Sun), external

Rangers midfielder Alex Lowry has been sent for a scan on the potentially serious knee injury sustained in Rangers B's Challenge Cup win over Dumbarton, a match in which he scored a hat-trick. (Sun), external

Dumbarton boss Stevie Farrell says Ally Love did not intend to harm Lowry. (Herald - subscription required), external

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Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst: "A very proud moment because I know what it means for the club and fans to be playing at the highest level in Europe. It's close to being the best moment.

"Ten years ago we were at the lowest point in our history, and it took hard work to build the club back to the level we achieve now. So it's a proud moment for me to be able to thank all the people who gave so much energy and time to build this club back again.

"It's going to be a great challenge."

Rangers striker Antonio Colak: "It's difficult to describe in words it was a great team performance. It's an amazing journey we'll have this year and I'm so proud of all of these guys.

"I was in tears on the pitch, it was just a moment of joy. As a kid I always wanted to compete at this level and to be here is amazing."

There were a number of standouts, but 22-year-old American James Sands deserves special praise. Many have been unsure of his presence alongside Connor Goldson in the centre of defence, but he was fantastic in Eindhoven.

He made more clearances (six), than any of his team-mates and read the game so well, also making two crucial interceptions.

Sands was caught out once on the ball under pressure, but made 86% of his passes and looked assured overall.

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Thomas Duncan, BBC Sport Scotland

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has again emphasised his ability to get his team over the line in big games.

That's six two-legged knockout ties under his stewardship where Rangers have emerged victorious. The only blips are the Europa League final - a penalty shootout defeat, and the two league defeats by Celtic last season.

And even then he showed he had learned from those derby losses in the Scottish Cup semi-final when they shut down Celtic well.

The decision to leave Alfredo Morelos at home for the PSV game was huge, and this result means Van Bronckhorst emerges even stronger.

The Dutchman is proving a shrewd tactician and calm, authoritative leader. The results need to keep coming, but the Rangers boss deserves huge credit.

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Giovanni van Bronckhorst told BT Sport there was a 20-minute hold-up with the Rangers team bus as PSV fans surrounded it.

"It was the worst I've seen as a player or manager," he said. "You can expect a club as big as PSV to get the organisation right.

"We had to wait for 15 minutes outside the stadium and one bus just left. So we were 20 minutes late for the second bus.

"We asked to delay the kick-off a little bit to prepare normally but they didn't approve our request. But we'll be ready mentally to go into this game with fighting spirit."

Rangers make one change from the first leg, with Glen Kamara taking over from Steven Davis in the midfield engine room.

Kamara came on as a sub last week but wasn't even in the squad for Saturday's draw at Hibernian.

Ryan Jack and Rabbi Matondo started at Easter Road but are back among the replacements this evening.

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Jane Lewis, BBC Sport Scotland in Eindhoven

As Eindhoven swelters - "our summers are not usually as hot as this", a taxi driver assured me - the heat is on for both Rangers and PSV.

The prize at stake is huge, with the winners progressing to the Champions League group stage and the riches it brings.

The mood among the Rangers fans in Eindhoven is upbeat as they congregate and enjoy the local hospitality.

The travelling supporters I've spoken to are desperate to witness a famous win tonight - although even with a spot of Dutch courage they know their side face a tough test.

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We asked for your thoughts on Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst's decision to omit Alfredo Morelos from the squad for Wednesday's Champions League play-off second leg in Eindhoven.

Here are some comments:

Andy: When his head's in the right place, Morelos can be a real asset - linking play and scoring goals. But when his head's not right and he's not fit, he's a liability. Seems to be the latter at the moment. Correct decision to leave him out. Might have missed the boat for getting a decent fee for him now.

Graeme Goodman: Morelos has been an outstanding player for Rangers, but sadly the time has come for him to move on and allow others to take his place. He'll never be forgotten, but sadly Hibernian was his final fall from grace and this time there is no coming back from it.

Graeme: Awful decision by GvB - dropping a goalscorer in a game where we might need a goal.

Luke Martin: Morelos needed reprimanded in some way, but I can’t help but feel leaving him out of the squad is counterproductive. It benefits PSV in their preparations and gives Rangers a lack of options from the bench.

Craig: Shows GvB doesn't think he can trust him. Antonio Colak has hit the ground running and delivered what the manager needs. Hopefully have a buyer lined up as Morelos is too good to lose for free and don't want unhappy players in dressing room.

Rangers are awaiting news of lauded talent Alex Lowry's injury after the 19-year-old scored a hat-trick before being taken off on a stretcher shortly before the end of their B team's 7-0 thumping of League 2 leaders Dumbarton in the Scottish Challenge Cup.

Lowry's departure came shortly after fellow midfielder Stephen Kelly completed the scoring and followed what Rangers' Twitter feed described as "a very dangerous challenge" that led to Sons forward Ally Love being booked.

Charlie McCann, Zak Lovelace and Arron Lyall were the other scorers in an impressive result even taking into account that Dumbarton fielded a much-changed side from the one that won 3-1 away to Stenhousemuir on Saturday to stay top of the fourth tier.

Although it was officially an away game for Dumbarton, it was played on their home ground, which is also used by the Ibrox colts side.

Rangers B, who are ineligible for promotion, are in their second season in the fifth-tier Lowland League and currently sit second, two points behind East Kilbride.

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Mark Hateley has lamented the passing of the away goals rule in European competition but is thankful that its demise could work in Rangers' favour in Eindhoven on Wednesday.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side travel to Netherlands for their Champions League play-off decider with the scores level at 2-2 after last week's first leg at Ibrox - a scoreline that would have previously handed hosts PSV a distinct advantage.

"The away goal rule when we played was massive," former Rangers striker Hateley told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland.

"It is almost a level playing field now. There is no advantage now when you are away to go and score goals.

"That takes away from the game. When you go away in Europe, away goals should be of benefit for everyone watching the game because it makes for a more exciting game."

Without away goals being a factor, Hateley believes both sides will approach the second leg much as they did the first in terms of tactics and personnel.

"It's a big, big game," he said. "It is going to be an exciting game and we've seen the performances last year from Rangers going all the way to the Europa League final - away performances being key to that journey - and Rangers fans and Gio will be expecting one of those performances tonight."

Rangers will be without Alfredo Morelos, the striker so often a talisman in European ties being left behind because of his fitness and attitude.

However, Hateley thinks current first choice Antonio Colak and on-loan Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman will be key for the visitors.

"Malik was rested at the weekend and he's been a big player and scored some big goals over the last couple of weeks, so him coming into the side will benefit them," he added.

"They have the players, they have the ability to keep clean sheets and they have Colak, who is bang in form at the moment and scoring goals."

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Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst's decision to axe Alfredo Morelos from his squad to face PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday has been backed publicly by the striker's team-mate, Connor Goldson.

Van Bronckhorst questioned the Colombia international's fitness and attitude after the 26-year-old was sent off after coming on as a substitute during Saturday's 2-2 draw away to Hibernian.

Goldson said Morelos "obviously done something stupid on Saturday, he did let us down" when asked about the decision to leave the striker out of the squad travelling for the second leg of their Champions League play-off in the Netherlands.

"I just think a fit and firing Alfredo is one of our most important players and obviously, until he gets back to that, I don't think he is helping us as much as he can do," Goldson said.

"He has had a massive injury, probably the first big injury that he has had in his career, and it has taken some time to come back from that, so we need him to be as fit and ready as much as possible, because he is one of the best players in this team."

Goldson insisted that the players remained unified with the tie finely balanced after the 2-2 draw last Tuesday at Ibrox.

"Going into tomorrow, this squad has to be more united than ever because we know it is going to be a massive game," he added.

With a photograph circulating to claim that Alfredo Morelos headed to a Glasgow gym in his own time after being axed from Rangers' squad, Mark Hateley points out that "it's not the first time" the Colombia striker's fitness and attitude has been called into question.

"When Steven Gerrard was here, that was aimed at Morelos then too," the former Rangers striker tells BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland.

Morelos, who was sent off during Saturday's 2-2 draw with Hibernian moments after coming on as a substitute at Easter Road, did not travel to the Netherlands with the squad for Wednesday's Champions League play-off second leg against PSV Eindhoven - a tie in the balance after last week's draw at Ibrox.

Hateley says current manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst will have assessed Morelos, who has not long returned from long-term injury, on the training ground and "come to the conclusion that he is not ready".

"The basis of a professional athlete is fitness and, from fitness, you get the performance and attitude," he says. "You get everything from that base where you should be as fit as you can possibly be at any given time to play within a team.

"If not, you are letting your team down and Gio has come to that conclusion."

Hateley does not think it is designed as a signal to interested clubs that Morelos is available for transfer as the 26-year-old enters the final year of his contract.

"All players are available at any given time, so there is no difference there," he says. "Every player has a price - Alfredo is no different - and over the last four or five years he has scored goals, and has scored goals at that European level as well, so clubs know all about him.

"I think it is a little jolt for Alfredo to see what kind of reaction he gets and don't forget that the information we are getting back is that Gio did go to senior players within the dressing-room and ask what they thought about the situation - and both parties came up with the same answer."