Michael Beale on Matondo Rangers revival and PSV 'scars'

Can lightning strike twice next week?

I think so, yes, of course. Naturally, we will go across and be extremely positive. There were moments in tonight’s game when I thought we were very good. I thought we scored two good goals and all night we caused them problems defensively. There were areas of the game we’d want to improve on, for sure. But everything is to play for. We wanted to set up next week and we’ve done that. We never had the game fully under control because at this level, against this level of opponent, it’s hard to do that. But with 10 or 12 minutes to go, we had the result under control so we’re super disappointed we conceded from a set play. 

Jack Butland had a good game without having to make big saves. Then we had a massive opportunity after they scored for us to win the game. We now need to get rid of the frustration we have because it won’t help us. We need to rest and have a game in between, which might be a good thing to keep our minds on. Then we will go across to Eindhoven and it’s a cup final.

Frustration to have conceded from a set piece? 

It’s always a concern when you concede off a set play but we’ll even that up next week  That’s the message to the players. Set plays are an important part of the game and if we defend that moment well then we go next week with a lead. But the way it is, we need to go away from home and get a result to go through. The club has done it before. We have played a lot in Europe down the years and our away form has been good. We played against an opponent tonight that’s not been beaten in many months. Clearly, it’s a good team that’s been invested in.

There are areas in their team we can hurt them. It’s important next week we show ten per cent more. But for my new group of players, this was a really important night. There were moments in the game when we struggled but we worked hard for each other. There were other moments when we did well and the crowd played a bit part as well. I was delighted for Sima and Matindo scored and the fans will now get behind those guys for sure. I also felt Dessers showed why he’s come to the club. He won the tussle with the two centre-backs and comes away with two assists. So I’m delighted for him.”

Had a grip on the game - take much from it?

We’re a new team with a lot of new players. There are moments where I’d like us to show a bit more composure and make more passes. It will make the game easier for us. That was the message but we’re up against a good opponent. Next week somebody has to win. With the crowd, they will come for us but that will give us spaces we don’t have domestically. With some of the pace and players we have, it gives us big opportunities.

READ MORE: Rangers instant analysis - Matondo and Sima light up Ibrox

Rabbi Matondo's recent improvement...

When I came in, Rabbi had a knee issue that was long-standing. But in every game he’s played for Rangers, there’s been moments for him to score and assist. It all comes down to his final pass or shot. He’s aware of that. He came back for pre-season in great condition and has had a real go. I’m pleased for him. In his last two or three performances, he’s done really well. He gives us something we don’t have. I just felt the spaces in this game were made for Rabbi and that’s why he came on. He rewarded himself with a goal.

Heartened by the response to the second PSV goal?

Tonight when we were struggling we fought for each other. We ran for each other, we problem-solved on the pitch This new group are learning very quickly that big nights like tonight bring us together. I don’t want anybody to underestimate us next week because it’s in this club to go put this performance on. We’ll have our thousands of fans travelling over there and as a team, we’re going there to get this job done. It’s a cup final and I think my group of players as a new team need nights like tonight.

Will PSG have scars from last year?

I think the tie is evenly set. I don’t think they and their coach are travelling home thinking ‘this is a job done’. They will know how hard physically that game was, at the end, it looked like they had one or two bumps and bruises as well. It is finely tuned. I think the two penalty boxes are going to be decisive. It’s important you play well between them but the most important thing is you take your chances when they come.

For my team the few chances we got tonight I was much more pleased compared to the domestic form where we are creating a lot more and being wasteful. I thought the two goals we scored tonight were excellent. 

Different type of challenge tonight?
Tonight was the only time we had to defend. It’s the only time. In the games we have played, in all fairness to the three domestic games and the two games against Servette, we had the majority of possession in them. Tonight was a different type of game. There were spells in the game when we really had to defend. We had less possession and it means you have to have different qualities to show. It was the best performance in a certain way.

But in the way that we want to play, of course, I would like us to have more possession and more spells in the game where we show more composure because that will lead to more chances. I am not going to sit here and say it’s the greatest performance I’ve ever seen from my group of players because I have high ambition for this group domestically and in Europe. I think we can go again and let’s hope that this time next week we are talking about an even more complete performance.

Any update on Glen Kamara to Leeds?

I have heard nothing about that unless something happened while I was preparing for the game. There is nothing concrete on that right now.

What will be the decisive factors next week?

Battling qualities and working hard defensively, it’s so much easier to see that visually as a team. When we are playing against low blocks you don’t always see the same level of work. I think for this group of players having to sweat, run and make tackles and blocks for each other and play against an elite opponent where you don’t always get your own way is really important for team building.

I was here, as everyone knows, for three and a half years and that team wasn’t built on day one.  We played Skopje here in Europe that team, compared to the team that beat Porto and Feyenoord and went on to beat Dortmund, had a lot of great days to get to there. I get that everyone wants it now, I’m at the front of that queue, and no one is more frustrated than me. But sometimes I have to be positive and tonight was a step in the right direction. Let’s focus on next week and what is a huge huge game for the club.

Did you have to calm down Cantwell when he could have been sent off? 

I just feel there are times and places where you have to make fouls and tackles and that wasn’t one. He just needs to be careful. He is usually on the end of things like that, so I like him to show his grit and things like that. But this is a new level again for Todd. He has not played in Europe in his career.  

He has played youth international football, but he has not played in Europe so this is a new level again. The level compared to domestic football goes through the roof. He will have learned a lot from tonight as well. He had a fantastic part in the second goal but it’s tough to get on the ball against these teams.  They counter press well, they are athletic and they are very organised. So this is the best learning ground for our team, but the most important thing next week is that we try to get the right result for everybody.’ 

PSV have the weekend off. Would you rather play? Or would you like the break?

To be fair, we need to play this weekend in the league. We had a disappointing first result, but we backed that up with a 4-0 and it’s important that we play this weekend. In future seasons? I think there is a discussion to be had because in this first batch of the season, we will play nine games and some people will play four or five. I don’t think that’s fair. But it’s the reality of being at a big club so we mustn’t moan about it. But I do feel that if other countries are helping their teams have time to prepare . . . I would love time on the training pitch at the minute.

We have played every three days. Every three days the team gets judged with nine new players coming in. Everything gets judged. So, yeah, I would like a bit more time. But we need to go to Ross County this weekend and we need to win a game of football. We have got more than enough time to recover from that and prepare to go and give it everything we can in Eindhoven.