Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s ‘defeatist’ attitude has alarm bells ringing, claims Celtic hero kris Commons
KRIS COMMONS reckons alarm bells should be ringing at Ibrox.
And he's insisted one of the main reasons for concern is the 'defeatist' attitude of manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Rangers lost 4-0 for the second successive game last week when they were battered by Ajax in their Champions League opener.
That followed up a humiliation by the same score at Celtic Park from the Saturday before - with the Ibrox side hardly laying a glove on their opponents on both occasions.
Questions over Van Bronckhorst had been raised after his comments in the aftermath of the tie in Amsterdam.
The Dutchman claimed his side simply don't have the budget to compete with Ajax - or to compete in Europe's top competition in general.
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Commons feels those words will have angered Gers fans - and insisted it shows a 'defeatist attitude' in the Ibrox boss.
Writing in The Daily Mail, he said: "The alarm bells are beginning to ring for Rangers.
"Two pitiful 4-0 defeats in a matter of days have posed serious questions of Giovanni van Bronckhorst's future as manager.
"But, even beyond the results against Celtic and Ajax, it was his comments after the Champions League defeat in Amsterdam which will have angered fans most of all.
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"Supporters won't be impressed to hear their manager claiming that the team can't compete at that level. It's nothing more than a convenient excuse."
He added: "I didn't hear much talk of budgets and financial gaps from Dinamo Zagreb when they beat a Chelsea side who spent over £250million in the summer.
"It showed a defeatist attitude from Van Bronckhorst to use the excuse of money. A well-coached and well-motivated team can always compete.
"Also alarming was how much the match in Amsterdam was just a continuation from what happened at Celtic Park. There was no reaction whatsoever from the Rangers players.
"If Rangers can't cut it at this level, as Van Bronckhorst claims, then God help the fans who have just forked out £180 for the three-match package at Ibrox.
"It speaks of a manager who doesn't believe in his players. Even if this squad aren't equipped for the Champions League, the boss shouldn't be saying that in public.
"He should be focusing his efforts on a solid and settled starting XI. There's still too much uncertainty around this Rangers team.
"There's no clear idea of what they're trying to do - and that's in stark contrast to what's going on at Celtic.
"I read one newspaper article last week which claimed that Van Bronckhorst has Ange Postecoglou 'sussed'. Football is all about opinions, of course it is. But that's one which certainly made me giggle.
"Postecoglou and Celtic are streets ahead at the moment.
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"If Van Bronckhorst doesn't buck up his ideas, he'll soon find that patience is wearing thin among the Rangers supporters."
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