Major Blow for Rangers: Ianis Hagi Excluded from Crucial Champions League Clash against PSV Eindhoven

Rangers manager Michael Beale has confirmed that he holds no concerns regarding Ianis Hagi, despite deciding to exclude the midfielder from his Champions League squad for the play-off against PSV Eindhoven. In Hagi's place, Rabbi Matondo has been included in the squad, while Ben Davies has recovered from injury and will be replacing Ridvan Yilmaz. The only player sidelined for the upcoming first leg against PSV due to injury is Yilmaz.

Hagi expressed his frustration with limited playing time after being substituted in the Viaplay Cup victory against Morton on Saturday. Beale acknowledges the possibility of Hagi leaving before the transfer window closes.

"There are no problems between Ianis and me. He desires to be a regular starter every week, so it is a possibility that we explore potential opportunities for him before the window closes," stated the manager, who rewarded Hagi with a new contract soon after assuming his position at Ibrox.

"Ianis is currently in competition with Todd Cantwell and Sam Lammers. He has put in a lot of effort during the summer to get fit, although he hasn't reached an optimal fitness level yet.

Ianis and his agent have been examining options and holding ongoing conversations for the past week. We cannot promise him a spot in the first team, just like nobody else can."

Image:

Malik Tillman could play against his former club after being added to PSV's squad

Malik Tillman could face his old club on Tuesday night after moving to PSV from Bayern Munich.

The midfielder showcased his talent at Rangers last season, leaving a strong impression. However, his loan spell and the season came to an abrupt end due to a hamstring injury. The manager expresses disappointment over not being able to retain him, acknowledging that despite having an existing agreement in place, Bayern followed through with their buyback option, much to their frustration.

Malik is aware that, apart from the matches against Rangers, he has our complete backing.

"He was exceptional for us. I had numerous conversations with him during the summer. After recovering from a prolonged injury, I believe this transfer is a brilliant opportunity for him."

Image:

Rangers triumphed over PVS Eindhoven in the play-off of the previous season's Champions League, enabling them to make a triumphant comeback to the group stages after more than ten years.

Beale recognizes that they will need to perform exceptionally well to replicate their past success.

"We are facing a highly accomplished opponent. Upon examining the other teams in the competition, I believe we are matched against the most formidable side we could have encountered," he commented in reference to the team that eliminated Sturm Graz in the previous round.

Currently, this presents a significant opportunity for the club, and I anticipate that we demonstrate a solid foundation in the initial match and establish a favorable position for the second match in Eindhoven.

Undoubtedly, this will be the most challenging trial we will encounter throughout the season as they have made substantial investments in the squad, resulting in a team composed of exceptional players.

Follow Rangers with Sky Sports

Are you seeking the most recent Rangers updates? Make sure to bookmark our Rangers news page, explore Rangers' fixtures as well as their latest results, watch video highlights of Rangers' goals, stay informed about the Scottish Premiership table, and find out which Rangers games will be broadcast live on We.

Get all this and more - including notifications sent straight to your phone - by downloading the We Scores app and setting Rangers as your favourite team.