GIOING PLACES
Calvin: Boss is amazing and Gers stars are desperate to do our best for him
THE Rangers squad were used to feeling starstruck with Steven Gerrard in charge but Calvin Bassey insists they are just as dazzled by Dutch hero Gio van Bronckhorst.
The Ibrox men bounced back in style against Sparta Prague on Thursday after the dramatic departure of their gaffer and the Hampden horror show against Hibs.
Van Bronckhorst was finally in the dugout for the Europa League clash and got the response he wanted as Gers sunk Sparta to march in to the knockout stages for the third year on the spin.
Bassey played a starring role after slotting in at centre back and he revealed they’ve all been blown away by their new boss.
Van Bronckhorst made a few minor tweaks to the side that faced Sparta but he got an immediate spark – with the likes of Alfredo Morelos blasting back to form after a few weeks off the boil.
Bassey said: “It’s always different when a new manager comes in. But as players we have to adapt. He’s an amazing manager with amazing staff. So we’re focused on giving our best for him every single game.
“It’s just about defending as a group and being solid. Because we’ve conceded first in the last few games, he’s told us to be strong.
“And he’s said it’s easier to defend with 11 players than it was with seven or eight.
“So we did that well against Sparta. Everyone won their duels and was strong. We were happy to do it for the coach.”
Blazing in to the Europa League last 32 was the perfect start for van Bronckhorst and it has given Gers fans another post Christmas treat in Europe.
Bassey is relishing the chance to go up against the big guns again and he’s determined to go beyond the last 16 stage they’ve hit in recent years.
He said: “Getting through to the Europa League again is important, of course.
“We want to test ourselves. That means big games in the league and Europe.
“We want to set new records – and push our boundaries. So it’s important for us to be in the Europa League as players, because everyone wants to play at the highest level.”
It was much more like it for Rangers against the dud Czechs and the two-goal cushion they needed to progress was the least they merited on a dominant night.
Bassey admitted it was just what the team needed on the back of Premier Sports Cup woe at the weekend.
He said: “It was a good match and we played well.
“We’re just happy to get the result. Obviously we’ve got a lot of games coming up so we’ll enjoy it but we now have to focus on Livingston.
“It was good to get a clean sheet because we’ve not been happy about conceding the first goal in so many games.
“We’ve been working on it from the beginning of the season and obviously the boys did the job on a big night.”
Bassey was also thrilled on a personal level.
The former Leicester kid has had to bide his time with Borna Barisic keeping a tight hold of the left-back role.
But an injury crisis with Leon Balogan joining Filip Helander on the crock list opened the door for his big chance at centre-half.
It might not have been his accustomed position but he slotted in without any fuss alongside Connor Goldson and he was delighted to soak up the big match atmosphere.
Bassey said: “That was my first start at home, so it was amazing. The fans are incredible in every game.
“I prefer left back but wherever the manager wants to play me, in goal or up top, I’m going to do my best for him.” The same goes for fellow youngster Nathan Patterson. The Scotland star was thrown in to a right-wing role for the final half an hour and held his own. He said: “We’ve been working hard to catch the gaffer’s eye. It worked as I got to play on the right wing. It didn’t matter where I get on, I enjoyed it.”