Rangers given ‘perfect’ helping hand by SPFL after ‘massive’ confirmed news – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed it would be “strange” if the SPFL weren’t willing to help Rangers in their Europa League campaign after their clash with Motherwell was moved.
The former Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed a potential European triumph “can only be a good thing for Scottish football”.
As confirmed by club media (19 April), Rangers’ trip to Motherwell has been brought forward 24 hours and will now take place at noon on Saturday (23 April).
The change allows Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men more preparation time ahead of their Europa League semi-final first-leg clash against Leipzig next Thursday (28 April).
Rangers were finalists in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup but lost out to Zenit St Petersburg in a 2-0 defeat in Manchester.
Whelan claimed the Ibrox club have a “massive opportunity” to go one better this season.
“It does make sense,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“It’s the first time for a long time that a Scottish club has advanced to this stage.
“Rangers obviously now have a massive opportunity to win the competition and qualify for the Champions League in the process. It’s a great chance.
“It can only be a good thing for Scottish football. I would find it really strange if the SPFL weren’t willing to give them the perfect opportunity to get through to the final.
“If there’s ever a time to accommodate such a thing – it’s now.”
Leipzig host the first leg of the semi-final showdown next week – with Ibrox sure to be rocking for a crunch second leg a week later (5 May).
Rangers’ trip to Motherwell is the first fixture since the Scottish Premiership’s split.
In other news, Rangers could land “astronomical” windfall after Premier League source reveal.