ian1964

LOUIS VAN GAAL last night warned Rangers they face mission impossible tomorrow night against Barcelona. The Spanish giants have big injury problems ahead of the Champions League clash with Portuguese ace Deco out for five weeks and fellow midfielders Yaya Toure and Rafael Marquez also on the sidelines. Ronaldinho missed Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Villarreal amid more reports of partying while away on World Cup duty with Brazil while Thierry Henry failed to sparkle at the weekend. But former Barca coach van Gaal has written off Walter Smith's side despite their emphatic Old Firm victory and successive group wins over Stuttgart and Lyon. He said: "Anything can happen in football but it's impossible for Rangers to beat my old club. "Rangers are doing well and have surprised many with the way they've started the group stage of the Champions League but facing Barcelona is something else. "I'm sure they will believe they can do something in Glasgow - but I just don't think it's possible. "Not only do Barca work hard but they also have a great physical strength and I don't think you can stop them at the moment. Rangers can try but I do not think so." Van Gaal knows what it takes to win the Champions League after guiding Ajax to glory in 1995 and the AZ Alkmaar boss believes Rangers' best tactic is to sit in. The man who delivered two La Liga titles during his four-year spell at the Nou Camp knows stars like Ronaldinho, Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o can pick holes in any defence in the world but reckons Barca are vulnerable to the counter-attack. He said: "People talk a lot about Messi but there isn't just one star at Barca - there are 11 stars. "My advice to Rangers is to reduce the space and look for any opportunity to hit them on the break. "The way Barca play there is always space in behind their defence and Rangers must use their quick players to make the most of this." Meanwhile, one of Henry's old Arsenal team-mates reckons the Frenchman can be stopped at Ibrox. Robert Pires was in the Villarreal side that won on Saturday night and he reckons Barca aren't giving Henry the ball enough Pires said: "Barcelona are not playing as they have to with Henry. "They are not looking for him enough. He hardly touched the ball against us. He is a player who needs to be on the ball. "He has to be involved in the game. At Arsenal when we had the ball we would always look for him but at Barcelona that is just not happening." Henry scored three times for France last week to become his country's all-time record goal scorer but delivered his worst Barcelona display ahead of the trip to Scotland. However, Pires blamed the poor club form on Barcelona's failure to play to Henry's strengths rather than any lethargy from his former team-mate. He said: "They both have to adapt to each other. Barcelona have to adapt and Thierry also but he is a player who is very easy to play with - and I'm not saying this because I played for three years with him." Pires led Villarreal's assault on Barcelona's jittery defence with the Barca back-line breached three times inside the first 35 minutes. And he believes a similar hightempo game can earn Rangers a shock win tomorrow. Pires said: "Rangers have to be aggressive in midfield. If you want to beat Barcelona you have to put them under pressure in the middle of the park. "You have to be on top of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Deco, although Deco won't be playing after his injury on Saturday. "Those three are the most important players in their team and it is from there that the danger comes so you cannot afford to let them play. "It will be very difficult for Barcelona in Scotland because of the pace Rangers play at. "You would expect Barcelona to win but they always give you chances to score. You have to put them under pressure - that is why we won on Saturday. "We put them under pressure, we defended well, we got hold of the ball and we played with great intensity." Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna reckons Ibrox' intimidating atmosphere can roar Rangers to victory. The midfielder, who scored two penalties in the surprise weekend win, played at Ibrox two seasons ago for Villarreal in the last 16 of the Champions League. Senna said: "The fans are like an extra player for Rangers. The Ibrox atmosphere is one of the best in the world. "When I played there it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "I would love it if the fans in Spain were like that. Rangers' supporters are among the best in the world and they can help their team enormously. "When we played there we drew 2-2 - we went ahead and then they came back at us and the fans made anoise I have never heard before. I will never forget that night." Senna agreed with team-mate Pires that Rangers can take the points if they get in among Barca's superstars. He said: "When you play against Barca you can't give them space to play. They have great players in midfield so you have to put them under pressure and play with speed and intensity because if not then they kill you. "I think Rangers can play that way - they are a very strong team, a big team in Scotland - and I think they can play with that intensity and beat Barca. "Of course, they have to play a very complete game because Barcelona are one of the best sides in Europe. "It doesn't get you anywhere to sit back against Barcelona. They will just play the ball around and they will wear you out with their passing game. "We were playing at home and we have a good team so we were not going to just sit back and defend. "We did what we always do - we played our football and tried to get forward whenever it was possible." Barcelona were criticised in the Spanish press following the defeat at Villarreal but Frank Rijkaard's No.2 Johan Neeskens insists his side aren't worried. He said. "Rangers always play the same way - especially at home - so we are not expecting any surprises. We know they had a big win at the weekend but that is good. "It won't change how we approach the game. Always when we go out to play a game we play for the win."

It's a great idea IMO,it's now down to a one off game against the world champions,we must give ourselves every chance of beating them

I don't really care who they bring/play,no-one expects us to take anything,however I right good battling 0-0 could be got,you just never know though,another shock result !!!!

IMO we have a better team and squad than them

A bad performance,but in reality we were punching above our weight from the start,all we need to do is beat Italy at home..............easy !!!!!!

Not very good news IMO,hope i'm wrong,but it doesn't sound to good !!

Ah !, I remember sitting beside the radio taping the top 40,superb !!

Not seen any predictions for tonights game !,2-0 Scotland for me

Matter of time really,things just never got going for him

I was at Frankies house yesterday,baby is doing well and Frankie is enjoying fatherhood,although the sleepless nights haven't hit him YET !!!!!!

Now now Gribz

C'mon now Fraser,you don't really hate the English,do you ?

Georgia are playing a 17 year old goalkeeper,17 y/o midfielder and 17 y/o striker

Lee McCulloch is fit for the OF game on Sat,Alan Hutton and Alan McGregor should be fit but JCD is still a big doubt

I think you're right,if we beat Italy we're through,it's a big ask though :cheers:

Aye,but is the Ukraine v France game not played later at night after the Scotland v Italy game :cheers:

I think Italy need to win at Hampden,unless Lithuania take points of France :cheers:

It's supposed to be red and we're supposed to be wearing it tomorrow

Another result like this and we'll be on our way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaIEO-LAcCA

Excellent stuff,and there's this as well

I think Dailly will start and IMO a player who is under rated,he has been a good servant to Scotland and will sit in front of the defence and break things up

I don't think Pearson was rank,but Maloney is a good shout :cheers:

Don't get me wrong Gribz.I do fancy us to win...........but then again it is Scotland we're talking about !!!!!,I mean going on recent results we are THE BEST TEAM IN EUROPE just now ,but we are famous for doing things the hard way

You're right mate,it's not going to be easy,but then we haven't had an easy game yet,and we have improved a hell of a lot since then,I think we'll get the win,the worrying thing for me is that Italy need to win at Hampden,and of course if we don't beat Georgia then we need to beat Italy,can we really beat the world champions ?

Wish I was going !!!!!!!!!!!!