Porto boss hails 'fantastic' Rangers atmosphere as he sends Europa League warning

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Steven Gerrard's side face a potentially pivotal clash with the Portuguese side on Thursday.

 

Porto boss Sergio Conceicao has told Rangers his side couldn't be more fired up for their trip to Ibrox.

The Primeira Liga big guns are set to arrive in Scotland for a pivotal Europa League showdown after last month's draw in Portugal.

Group G is finely poised with just three points separating all four teams.

Conceicao, a former Porto , Lazio and Inter Milan winger, insists he's relishing the pressure of a potentially pivotal 90 minutes in deciding who will reach the knock out stage.

Young Boys top the table, Feyenoord sit bottom, with Rangers and Porto tucked in between as the final three fixtures loom.

But Conceicao, who's relishing a night at Ibrox under the lights, insists nothing but winning the group will do for his team.

 

"It's fantastic," he told Desporto. "It's that pressure that everyone likes to have, everyone is excited and looking at the game with incredible passion.

"I like to be in those environments. I was used to my club to live in such situations.

"FC Porto always has the ambition of wanting to win the races where they are in.

"The group is very balanced. We are playing against teams that also have a great track record in their countries, they were often champions."

But Conceicao's determination is more than matched inside the Rangers camp.

Steven Gerrard's missed out on last 32 qualification last term and Borna Barisic is determined to go one better this time.

He said: "We are looking forward to Porto.

“It is a very important game for us because we can go through the group stages.

"We need to show a good performance on Thursday and then we have Livingston where we need to win.

"At Rangers you need to have that mentality and you always have to win.”

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/porto-boss-hails-fantastic-rangers-20822677