FASHION Sakala is confident Rangers will be able to build on the lessons learned during their epic Europa League run last season in their Champions League qualifier against Belgian rivals Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and advance to the play-offs. .
Sakala spent three years playing in the Jupiler Pro League with Oostende before moving to Glasgow on a free transfer last summer and knows that Union, who narrowly lost the title to Club Brugge last year, will be a difficult opponent.
The striker has seen the Brussels side, who were returning to the top flight for the first time in 49 years after winning the Challenger Pro League last year, in action on television and has spoken to former team-mates about them. But the Zambian, who featured in victories over Brondby, Sparta Prague, Red Star, Braga and RB Leipzig, as well as the final against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2021/22 campaign, believes Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side have the experience to deal with the third. qualifying round match at the Den Dreef on Tuesday night.
“La Union was in the lower league at the time I was there,” he said. “But I have seen some of their games in the Belgian league even though I was gone and they are a good team. But obviously we’re Rangers, so we’re ready for them.
“This team that we are going to face in the Champions League has just come from the Second Division and almost won the League. They led the league and lost in the play-offs. It is a very good competition.
“I have had conversations with my friends in Belgium about them, especially when they were top of the league. We talked about them before the draw and before we knew we were up against them. So I knew a lot about them before.
“I have seen some games they played. I wasn’t that interested when I saw it, but now we’re up against them! It’s getting very interesting. I did the right thing by watching them a bit because I have an idea of how they play.
“Honestly, at the time I wasn’t looking for their weaknesses because I didn’t know we were going to face them. Now we have people who analyze the teams we are going to face to find out their weaknesses”.
Sakala added: “Looking at the journey we had last season, everyone expects us to win this game easily. That is something that the players are focused on: we have to win.
“I think we are going to do it because our goal is to play in the Champions League this season. That is the dream of each and every one of the players. Last season we had a very good season because we did everything together. The team looks very exciting, even better this season. I think we are going to have a very good season.
“It was amazing to play against such good teams in the Europa League last season. But Rangers is one of those great teams. It’s just that we play in a league that people don’t think is good. People think that the Scottish league is the worst league in the world.
“But you have teams that can play in big, big competitions. Because Dortmund played in the Bundesliga, everyone thought they were favorites to win. But we surprised them. We are playing in this league, but Rangers are above this competition, this league.”
The Union are unable to play the first leg of their third qualifying round doubles match at home because the Joseph Marien Stadium does not meet UEFA requirements and Sakala suspects a change of venue to nearby Den Dreef will help Rangers achieve a victory.
“I feel like it’s an advantage for us that they’ve changed the venue because they’re obviously more comfortable in their own stadium,” he said. “Both sides will go to a place we are not used to. It will be a 50-50 situation. But we’re Rangers, so we’re always thinking about winning.”
Source: www.thenational.scot