Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopes Rangers can use Ibrox advantage against Braga
Rangers lost 1-0 away to Braga in the first leg of their quarter-final tie
Giovanni van Bronckhorst hopes Rangers can use Ibrox next week to take them past Braga and into the Europa League semi-final following their 1-0 defeat in Portugal.
The Light Blues enjoyed some good fortune in the first-half when the home side hit the post and had the ball in the net only for a VAR check to rule the goal out but eventually Spanish striker Abel Ruiz opened the scoring in the 40th minute and it proved to be the difference.
The Light Blues now have the chance to overcome the deficit in Govan next week and Gers manager, who noted that Rangers beat Red Star Belgrade 3-0 in Govan in the last round, said: “Of course we’re only half way. We always want a good result to take back to the second game.
“That’s what we wanted but you know a 1-0 defeat is quite a small margin.
“We’re only half way so next week we have a big game.
“We know what’s ahead of us and we will prepare well.
“The performance at times today was good. We created some chances but you all saw the quality they have.
“It’s a quarter final so you’re going to face an opponent who is also strong.
“But we’re coming back with one goal difference. It could have been better but it could also have been worse.
“We’ve got a much better view of their team so we’re going to prepare well for next week.
"We know what the task is.
"It is the final game of this tie and I know at home, with the crowd behind us as always, that we can give a good performance.
"We lost 2-1 against Red Star away, but in the home game we made the difference. We have to do the same now again."
Midfielder Ryan Jack was one of three substitutions made by van Bronckhorst on the hour mark] and he admitted his frustration was due to the result rather than the knock he took.
He said: "I took a knock on my knee but it is fine.
"I had ice on it when I came off. I was more just frustrated at losing the game.
"We don’t like losing at this level and we are desperate to get to a semi-final.
"When you are losing the game there is frustration there but we have to use that frustration, and the home crowd, to turn it around."
Braga boss Carlos Carvalhal said: "The victory was a victory of a young team which requires maturity.
"The first half we scored twice, one was chalked off and we hit the post.
"So we could have scored more.
"We have a slight advantage in the first half of these two legs
"We will respect our opponent but we will play to win the game."