Ryan Jack: This is what was missing from my Rangers debut
By Danny Wright
Ryan Jack believes that Rangers were missing a cutting edge in their return to European football against Progres Niederkorn on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old was one of five players to earn their debut appearances for the Light Blues in the 1-0 Europa League qualifying win at Ibrox, which was settled by Kenny Miller’s first-half goal.
Dalcio and Fabio Cardoso were also named in Pedro Caixinha’s starting line-up, with Alfredo Morelos and Daniel Candeias being introduced from the bench throughout the 90 minutes.
In reality, it was quite an underwhelming return to continental competition, but Jack was happy with certain aspects of his new team’s performance.
“I think maybe the final pass was missing or the final cross and maybe having some more bodies in the box to score a goal,” he said, as quoted by Rangers’ official website.
“I think on our overall play, keeping the ball, moving the ball and everyone getting their touches I thought we really did well. We just want to be more clinical as a team to finish the tie off.”
Jack is one of eight new faces to have been announced through the door at Ibrox since the end of last season as Caixinha looks to stamp his own authority on his squad.
The midfielder captained Aberdeen to a runners-up spot in the Scottish Premiership last term, making 39 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals.
Bruno Alves, Eduardo Herrera and Carlos Pena were the only new players not to feature on Thursday night.
The Mexican duo have only just signed for the Glasgow club while Alves has been on international duty with Portugal in the Confederations Cup.
Rangers will look to ensure they progress to the second round of the Europa League qualifiers next Tuesday night when they travel to Luxembourg to play Progres in the second leg.
In other Rangers news, Cardoso has admitted that he was left speechless after his first appearance at Ibrox.
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