Hans Vanaken Believes Rangers Are on Par with Celtic, Warns Club Brugge to Forget Pre-Season Friendly
Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken has dismissed their recent pre-season draw against Rangers as irrelevant, insisting the Belgian side must prepare for a much tougher challenge when they face the Scottish giants in the Champions League.
Vanaken, who plays alongside Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin for Belgium, compared the upcoming clash to last season’s 1-1 draw with Celtic, warning his teammates they’ll need to raise their game significantly.
“It will be similar to our match against Celtic last year,” Vanaken said. “We managed a good result then, but Rangers will demand even more from us. The friendly at Ibrox doesn’t mean anything—this will be a different game, with an incredible atmosphere we’ll have to handle.”
Club Brugge Must Step Up Against Rangers
Brugge staged a dramatic late comeback to eliminate RB Salzburg in the previous qualifying round, with Vanaken scoring a 93rd-minute winner in a 3-2 victory. However, he acknowledges that Rangers—still adapting under manager Russell Martin—will require an even higher level of performance.
Vanaken also highlighted winger Carlos Forbs, formerly of Manchester City and Ajax, as a key threat. “Carlos is lightning-fast with excellent movement,” he said. “He can play on either wing, making him almost impossible to defend against. He’s a real weapon for us.”
Brugge are hopeful star striker Christos Tzolis will be fit for the first leg. The Greek international, who scored 21 goals and provided 14 assists last season, has drawn interest from Crystal Palace. The Premier League club has already seen one bid rejected but is reportedly preparing another offer as they brace for Eberechi Eze’s potential departure to Tottenham.
