Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst in defiant 'no doubt' Ibrox atmosphere judgment

We’ve seen a lot of their games. They have some new additions and a new coach so play a little differently from last year. You can see they’ve bought a lot of experience with Luuk De Jong, a striker who has experienced everything in football. They have a clear style of play, they’re very comfortable on the ball and they’re very strong in transition moments. It’s a good side, they won the Super Cup during a good game with Ajax and started the league well so it’s the last step into the group stage. It’s normal to face a very difficult opponent.

Can we have a squad update and does the first leg being at Ibrox alter your approach?

No, it’s the same. It’s the first game, you want a good result to take into the second game. That’s the same when we play away. At home you have to have a good game, that’s what we’re trying to do. We have everyone available for tomorrow, James Sands and Ryan Kent are back. We’re looking forward to the challenge.

What would it mean to you to lead Rangers back into the Champions League?

I have coached in the Champions League before, you want to be involved in it, it’s one of the best in the world. For me, I came here and wanted to win prizes, play at the highest level. The main thing for me is to qualify and bring the club back to the biggest stage in European football.

Where would you rank PSV in terms of challenges?

It’s a recognised team in Europe who are always challenging for the Dutch title. I cannot compare them with other teams, they’re all different but with the last play-off before the group stage, there is a lot of pressure for both teams. We have to control that as well. I’m looking forward to a big game.

Do you expect both teams to be expansive tomorrow?

We have to make sure we recognise their approach. The most important thing is how we start the game and how we want to play. It makes it easier if we have a good start so that’s what we always want at home. I don’t know PSV’s intentions. We will prepare the team well for every scenario they will use.

Have you spoken to Ruud van Nistelrooy since the draw was made?

No, I haven’t been in touch with him lately. The last time I spoke was regarding our foundations. But as I said before, I never thought he would be a coach. Neither did I, I had the thought after I stopped playing. Ruud did his badges and made the decision to get experience in PSV’s academy which he did well at the U19s and second team. He’s been given a chance now to coach the first team. I think the support he gets from the club is similar to what I had at Feyenoord, so I’m just looking forward to meeting him again and see a player I played with make his managerial steps.

Why did you think he wouldn’t be a manager?

Because when you play in a Dutch team, there are players who always talk about the shape and are an extension of the coach. Players like Frank De Boar, Phillip Cocu, Peter Bosz who was talking as a coach when he played. I’m sure people didn’t think that of me when I was playing! The most important thing is once the job gets you and you get experience and give all the energy to develop, you can recognise when a player is becoming a manager.

What do you remember playing alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy? And did you play against him while playing for Arsenal against Manchester United? 

I played against him when he was at Manchester United and also at Real Madrid. I played more games with him. For me, playing with him brings back memories than playing against him. I played against Ruud when we played against PSV in the 90s for Rangers. I think he made his move to Man Utd a couple of years after that. You could see the talent he brought and possessed at that time. It’s good to see him back again.  

Does the pressure feel different because the stakes are so high to get into the group stages? 

It’s not more pressure, for me. In the end, we’re preparing the game to win. Of course, the rewards you get after this tie is bigger – that’s the pressure. But you don’t have to take it into the game. Just concentrate on your strength and your ability to play well to overcome PSV over these two legs. That’s the job we have to do. 

What does a ‘good’ result look like tomorrow? Does it have to be a win? 

I think in the knockout stages last year the first time we played at home first was against Red Star Belgrade. The first leg was always away, but we won 3-0 at home [that night]. You want to still be in the tie or have an advantage when you go to play the second leg. We have to be in very good condition and be on top of our game. The last tie against Union we were under par when playing away and we had to give everything to make sure we got through. Against PSV, we need to be there for two games or we will struggle to get through. The differences now are so little and the games will be decided in the details. 

You spoke about the games against PSV in 1999 being special as a player, is it the same now as manager and having the opportunity to show the level of Rangers to a Dutch audience? 

We want to have a positive performance. Going through to the group stages is our main objective. Playing against a Dutch team, I see many familiar journalists from Holland that I haven’t seen for years. It makes it special for me. In the end, I have to concentrate on the game plan and make sure the game management is there. We need to be on top of our game for two nights. 

We know that Ibrox is a special atmosphere while we know De Kuip (Feyenoord’s stadium) is a special atmosphere, how do you compare the two? 

Obviously, they’re both clubs that I played for and coached. It’s a big factor. You have the great support of the fans. You make it extra special and hectic if the performance on the pitch is there, because it will become stronger. That’s what we need to try and achieve. Fans are a big influence. If you play away from home and the support is really there, it makes a big difference. We’ve seen teams who came here who have felt that. We need to make sure the performance is there tomorrow. We need to take into account the quality of the opponents. 

Are you confident the atmosphere will be on the same level as last week, for example, because the first leg is at home? 

Of course. Every game I’ve played at home, the first I played was against Sparta Prague in the group stages and the atmosphere was fantastic. Every game after that the atmosphere was there. I have no doubt in my mind the atmosphere will be there.  

Is the Champions League seen as the new base in Europe for Rangers – and how much was that part of the discussion with Ross Wilson when you took over? 

That’s my goal and our goal. We are playing European football every season, last year was Europa League. We changed the disappointment against Malmo into a positive year. There’s no doubt in my mind that every year we’re involved in Europe we want to be part of the Champions League. That has to be our goal. It doesn’t mean we’ll play in it every year, but we want to show everyone that it’s our desire. 

What are the differences between PSV and Rangers? 

The differences will be very small and tight. They had a great game against Monaco. They would have been disappointed last year being knocked out in the Champions League. The desire is quite similar. It’s a big game for both clubs. We both want to be in the Champions League but there’s only one ticket left in this tie left. I’m sure you'll see a PSV who do everything to get through, same with Rangers. There are all the ingredients for two great games. 

Are PSV a team that is built in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s image? 

Of course. You will see the players execute the plan he wants. You can see changes from the last coach to Ruud this season. They have many weapons, a lot of height up front, headers. De Jong and Til on the second leg, also have creativity and speed. It’s a balanced team. That’s why they’re playing against us for the last ticket to play in the Champions League.