‘Play the game, not the occasion’ – Rangers star Scott Wright urges Ibrox heroes to keep cool as PSV showdown nears

SCOTT WRIGHT admits it’s vital Rangers play the game and not the occasion against PSV.

Gers host the Dutch giants on Tuesday night in the first leg of their £40million winner-takes-all showdown to make the Champions League groups.

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Wright in action against St JohnstoneCredit: Getty

It’s 12 years since Rangers last got that far.

But with so much at stake, Wright insists it’s essential Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side don’t get caught up in the emotion.

Wright said: “We have to play the game, not the occasion — and they’ll say the same.

“It’s so important for us to play in these competitions.

“We had such a great run but that was last year so that’s kind of parked now.

“We don’t want to keep thinking about that, we want to be playing in the Champions League.

“We’re going to go in with a game plan and hopefully we achieve it over the two legs.”

Rangers produced a dazzling second-half display to run out comfortable winners against St Johnstone.

Malik Tillman — with another incredible back-post leap — headed them ahead.

Antonio Colak added a second before Scott Arfield and Tom Lawrence made it 4-0.

Wright added: “It was very hot out there. We had to play the conditions to an extent and tried to keep the ball moving.

“It’s always good to score a few goals ahead of a big game and we managed that.

“We knew St Johnstone would come here and try and frustrate us and the crowd.

“So when the first goal goes in, I think it gives us more space to exploit.

“It’s important then to get the second as quickly as possible to try to settle the game.

“We’ve got a lot of new players, but we had a great pre-season and I thought that was important to try to gel with the new players.

“It’s difficult to understand everyone’s game straight away.

“But the players we’ve brought in are going to be fantastic additions.”

Wright took a knock midway through the first half, but declared himself fit to face PSV.

He added: “Yeah I’m fine, all good. I was just trying to get down and get a rest from the heat.

“I took a wee bit of a hit but the position I play and the type of player I am, I’m always going to get these hits from defenders.

“It’s just part of the game but I’m all good.

“I just want to keep going and push on this season.

“I didn’t want last season to end, to be honest, because I felt I had a bit of momentum.”

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13.08.2022 Rangers v St Johnstone: Malik Tillman scores for Rangers and celebratesCredit: Willie Vass

Meanwhile, Gers boss van Bronckhorst is delighted with the progress of his new- look squad.

There are definite signs they are beginning to gel with Tillman, Rabbi Matondo and Ben Davies all impressing in the win over Saints.

Van Bronckhorst said: “I think we had seven new players coming in.

“When you are a Rangers player you need adaptation.

“All the things they will see in the first weeks and months are massive so we are trying to make sure they are welcomed by the other players and they have to go out and enjoy themselves and make sure they play to their strengths so it is very good for me to see.

“Malik is settling really well, Tom as well, Rabbi had a good performance, Ben could play minutes so the more games we play, the more minutes new players play, the more settled they become and the stronger we get.

“It’s very important to have this level of competition, we have many midfielders who are playing well.

“Glen Kamara came into the game late, we still had Steven Davis on the bench.

“We are strong in the midfield area and up front, we have many attacking options.

“You want a squad like we have now, especially given all the competitions we are in. The midfield is a very important part of the play.

“If you control the midfield then you control the game. I’m very pleased with them.”

Gers were ruthless as Saints wilted in the sun at Ibrox.

And Van Bronckhorst was thrilled to see four different scorers get in on the act.

He stressed: “As you said before, for me what we have to do a lot better than last year is don’t keep teams in the game.

“That is the most important thing we have to do, especially at home.

“But also away, when you have the chance to make the second goal, the third goal then you have to take it.

“That’s why I’m really pleased with the desire we have today.”

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