Run over the top of them’ – Pundit claims teams don’t ‘Respect’ Rangers after what he saw

European teams think they will “run over the top” of Rangers in the Europa League because they don’t have “respect” for them, according to Tam McManus.

Reacting to the 2-2 draw at Benfica the night before, the pundit said on PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show that the Light Blues have shown they can hit back against attacking displays to hurt teams on the counter.

He believes Philippe Clement’s men have a “real chance” to progress in the competition with the return leg at Ibrox next week, where he predicts the Portuguese giants will come at them again.

McManus said: “They get them back to Ibrox with a real chance. I think that Benfica will really come and try to attack Rangers, and that suits Rangers.

“I don’t think teams have got, maybe, a lot of respect for Rangers. They think they’ll run over the top of them and go and attack them.

“And Rangers have proved over the last couple of seasons that when teams come onto them and attack them they’re capable of hitting them on the counter.”

Rangers prove surprise match for European heavyweights?

McManus’ argument somewhat falls down when it comes to the very top sides on the continent after the miserable Champions League group stage campaign last term, but in the second tier competition he looks to have a point.

Having rebounded from a miserable start to the season to get wins home and away against Real Betis and top the group, and now return from Lisbon with a decent result it has added to some excellent showings in the run to the final two seasons ago under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

The likes of Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig were overcome on the way to the showpiece in Seville that year, sending stars such as Jude Bellingham and Christopher Nkunku out.

Even at the Estadio Da Luz Rangers could have returned home with the lead were it not for a penalty awarded for handball on John Souttar which has only ignited arguments over the current iteration of the law further, and a seemingly needless own goal from Connor Goldson.

But if big teams are going to continue to underestimate the Gers then all the better, as this side has made a major contribution to Scotland’s European coefficient by springing surprises under such circumstances, although performing well in their own right has played a significant part.

The Ibrox crowd will play its part next week but the tie is by no means over and it will require another strong performance, preferably with the mistakes cut out, to go through.