Fred Rutten paved the way for Gio van Bronckhorst as a manager – now he’ll go all out to end Rangers boss’ Euro dreams
HE paved the way for his route into management.
Now Fred Rutten is going all out to block Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s path into the Champions League.
That’s the view of former Rangers star Pieter Huistra who believes the highly-experienced PSV Eindhoven No 2 will have a pivotal role across both legs of the crunch £40million play-off.
Rutten, who made way for Van Bronckhorst at Feyenoord back in 2015, is now Ruud van Nistelrooy’s trusted assistant at PSV.
All three are set for a reunion this week as Gers battle the Dutch giants for a place in the money-spinning group stages.
And ex-Rangers and Holland midfielder Huistra has lifted the lid on Rutten’s influence behind the Van Nistelrooy revolution.
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Huistra said: “I know Ruud as a player, of course, but this is his first season as a head coach.
“He might be new to the position, but he has some excellent, experienced assistants.
“Fred Rutten is a very well- respected coach in Holland, so he’s certainly not alone. He’ll have a lot of help around him.
“It’s not unusual for PSV to give such a big job to someone starting their first job.
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“They did it with Mark van Bommel as well, so it looks like they have a policy where they promote their own people up through the ranks.
“Van Bommel was the coach of the Under-19s and reserves before moving to the professional side and Van Nistelrooy has made the same journey. Is it a risk? Yeah, I think it is.
“You saw with Van Bommel it was a risk because it was too early for him. He only lasted 18 months before being sacked.
“But that’s why PSV have put such an experienced assistant in beside Van Nistelrooy.
“He’ll guide Ruud through the first few months in the job.”
It’s 21 years since the two sides met in the group stages of the Champions League.
Back then, Van Bronckhorst helped Rangers to a 4-1 win at Ibrox — with Van Nistelrooy scoring a penalty for PSV before a thumping Jorg Albertz volley gave Gers victory in Holland.
They last faced each other in 2011 when PSV dumped Rangers out of the Europa League 1-0 on aggregate.
Given what’s at stake this time around, Huistra insists the play-off has captured the imagination of football fans right across Holland.
Huistra said: “It will be a good game. It’s two friends meeting each other.
“As soon as the games on Tuesday finished, that was the narrative in Holland.
“Ruud had a wonderful career at Manchester United and Real Madrid, but Van Bronckhorst is also a big name in the Netherlands.
“He was captain of the national team and is well respected in the country.
“He made Feyenoord champions and, of course, took Rangers to the Europa League final last year, so I think they go into this meeting equal in stature.”
Huistra, who won five league titles during his time in Glasgow, believes the tie is too close to call. He added: “I know for sure the game against PSV will be more difficult for Rangers than the tie with Union.
“PSV will be dangerous on the counter attacks. They have a lot of speed up front.
“It’s difficult to pin them down in their own half because you have to leave space behind your defence, which they are so quick to exploit.
“Rangers are at home first, so that is something Gio has to have in mind.
“He will want his team to make an immediate impression on the tie, but he cannot give away too much space on the pitch because that’s dangerous against a team like PSV.
“That’s what Monaco did. They pressed PSV high and gave away the space — and they were punished for it.”
Last week, Dundee United were humiliated by Dutch opposition as AZ Alkmaar ran riot and put seven past the Tannadice side.
But Huistra insists that Rangers’ exploits have kept Scottish football’s reputation intact.
He stressed: “It was a tough night for United. I’ve just seen a few of the goals on TV. It was a complete turnaround from the first leg.
“I know the AZ players were very angry with themselves after the game at Tannadice.
“They didn’t play too badly and should never have lost, but they certainly made up for it big time.
“However, I don’t think Holland’s football public will now view Scottish football in a negative way.
“In Holland, we have always had respect for the way the Scots do football and the Scottish people’s attitude to the game.
“Rangers did so well going all the way to Seville last season, so that was a good advert for the Scottish game.
“Sometimes these results happen. Of course, Dundee United will feel sore.
“But for Scottish football in general and how it’s seen, it will not make too much of difference.
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“The Rangers team would be far better not looking at the PSV match as a chance for them to restore some Scottish pride.
“It would be best for them to focus only on their team and nothing else.”
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