MICHAEL BEALE says Rangers must embrace the challenge that lies ahead as they take on PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League play-off round tomorrow evening.
The Gers boss hopes his side can show their quality in attacking positions as they aim to make the most of home advantage in the first-leg, ahead of next week's return match.
Speaking to the media at this afternoon’s pre-match press conference, Beale said: “Every three days there's a huge game, the expectation is huge, but that expectation is what you want.
“You can call it pressure but tomorrow night my team are playing against an excellent team in the Champions League and within that there's a lot to enjoy. It is important we embrace it and give it everything.
“Offensively I think PSV are an excellent team, they have got some very good players, some players that are sought after, they recruited well, and they have got a good coach who has got good experience in Europe and domestic leagues as well.
“It is a tough challenge, and it is a great opportunity for us. Certainly, in the attacking positions it is important we show our quality as well and hurt them at times that we can.”
Beale provided an update on his squad for the play-off round, with Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo named in the squad while Ianis Hagi and Ridvan miss out.
He continued: “Ben comes back into the squad because Ridvan is not fit, and I feel that Rabbi in the last couple of weeks has shown a good face in terms of his speed and his directness and we may need that over the next two legs.
“There’s no issue with Ianis, I think he put in his own words he is very happy when he is playing football, he has missed football for a year and he wants to play as a starter week in week out so it may be that between now and the end of the window we look at that but I thought he did well when he came into the game at the weekend.”
Beale hopes Rangers’ variety of options in attacking areas can cause problems, as he praised the new signings for how they have settled in at the club.
He continued: “Little things are starting to happen. The new players have all now started a game and I think Jack [Butland] in goal had big moments last week in Servette which you need as a Rangers goalkeeper.
“The forwards have started scoring, Cyriel [Dessers] has got two goals and assists in four starts, Danilo has got two goals in three starts so I am looking at positives. After the first weekend of the season, we have shown a positive face in terms of getting results.It is a squad game and I think we are going to need 14/15 players in both these games to step-up.
“We have got a lot of variety, so when you are looking to play against us you are unsure of who we are going to pick and how the front line is going to look. I think that is a bonus to have as a manager of a team when another side is looking to see how you might set up.
“If you are not playing there's a way you can change the game and these two games are big and there will be moments where big players will hopefully step up and show their worth.
“It is about setting up the second-leg, we know we have to go across to Eindhoven and put in a fantastic performance regardless of what happens tomorrow night.
“I would say we are playing against probably the strongest side we could play right now. It is a big opportunity for the club, the players and the fans and everybody so I am looking for us to show a real strong foot in the first-leg and set up the second-leg in Eindhoven.”