As the Portuguese media continue their coverage of Benfica’s trip to Scotland, they’ve now interviewed someone who can talk well about both the Lisbon side and Rangers ahead of the Europa League clash.
Newspaper O Jogo managed to speak to Graeme Souness, who besides being a Rangers legend, also managed the Eagles in the 90s.
“It will be very difficult for Benfica. They will probably go through complicated moments, like any other team would have at this stage in Ibrox, but they can win,” Souness told O Jogo.
“Now it’s time for the great Benfica players to show what they are worth and what they are made of, if they’re made of steel.”
“They are in great shape, playing good football, leading the championship and although we are still far from the end everything points to being champion. At this moment the world of Rangers is perfect.
“They felt the draw in Luz as a defeat, they could’ve made history by beating Benfica, one of the great Europeans, at their home. It’d have been a feat for Rangers and Scottish football. The players certainly attacked themselves for that. Now, and because they’re in great shape, they will want to show that the draw was a mistake.
“It will be difficult for Benfica, as it would be for any team at this moment. This Rangers at home is terrible for any team.”
Benfica’s trip to Glasgow seemed a big challenge itself due to the difficulty of the game, and things got worse with the many players they’ll be missing for the clash.
André Almeida, Todibo, Nuno Tavares and Pedrinho are all injured. Andreas Samaris isn’t registered in the tournament, Nicolas Otamendi is suspended, and Darwin Nunez, Julian Weigl and Adel Taarabt are in quarantine following their positive tests for Coronavirus.
Manager Jorge Jesus is only taking 21 players to Glasgow, and three of them are youngsters who are joining the first team for the first time.
