Expert: Rangers dealt ‘surprise’ in Champions League qualifiers – ‘I’ve looked into it’
Alan Hutton has claimed that Rangers have been drawn against a “difficult” opponent in their upcoming Champions League qualifier.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender said that Union Saint-Gilloise were a “surprise package” in the Belgian top flight last season.
On Monday (18 July) Rangers confirmed the outcome of the draw.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side will play the first leg of the competition away from home.
The Glasgow club qualified for the third round of the European competition after finishing second in the Scottish top flight last season.
When asked for his assessment of Rangers’ opponents, Hutton told Football Insider: “I think it’s a sticky one.
“I’ve looked into them. They finished top of the league last season but their league is slightly different, they go into a play-off after that and they missed out to [Club] Brugge who are the big hitters over there.
“They were the surprise package last season. Thomas Buffel, an ex-teammate of mine wrote about them and said how well they played through the course of the season.
“So it’s going to be a difficult game there’s no getting away from that fact. But I do believe if Rangers stick to the form that they were in last season then they can overcome it and go into the play-offs.“
The Gers last made the group stages of the Champions League in the 2010-11 season under Walter Smith.
They finished runners up in the Europa League last season.
In other news, a pundit has suggested Rangers may ‘unearth a superstar’ in Malik Tillman amid ‘hostile’ claim.