‘I have no words’ – Cardoso delivers verdict on Rangers debut in narrow win v Progres
By Danny Wright
Defender Fabio Cardoso had admitted that he was left speechless after making his Rangers debut against Progres Niederkorn at Ibrox on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old was one of five players to earn their first appearances for the Light Blues in the 1-0 win against the Luxembourg club in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
Despite the glut of new faces, it was the ever-reliable Kenny Miller who scored the only goal of the match in the 37th minute.
Dalcio and Ryan Jack were named in the starting line-up alongside Cardoso, who featured in the centre of defence alongside youngster David Bates.
The Portuguese centre-back signed a three-year deal at Ibrox in June and admitted on his personal Twitter account that Thursday’s occasion blew him away.
“I have no words, I am very happy to have made my debut, for finally having the opportunity to play at Ibrox,” he said in the early hours of Friday morning.
Cardoso is expected to line up in the heart of Pedro Caixinha’s back four alongside his fellow countryman Bruno Alves, who has recently been on international duty in the Confederations Cup.
Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena were the only other new arrivals not to feature against Progres while Alfredo Morelos and Daniel Candeias both came off the bench in the narrow win.
Big things are expected from Cardoso this season after he performed well for Vitoria Setubal in the Portuguese top-tier last term.
The Benfica academy product played 27 times across all competitions in the 2016/17 campaign, scoring once.
Rangers play the second leg of their early Europa League qualifier at Progres’ home on Tuesday night.
In other Rangers news, Derek Johnstone has told Caixinha that there is no room for excuses this season.
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