sport news Giovanni van Bronckhorst insists Rangers 'cannot compete' with the financial ... trends now
Giovanni van Bronckhorst last night insisted it was too much to ask Rangers to compete with the financial powerhouses of the Champions League.
Making a return to Europe’s elite competition after 12-year absence, the Ibrox club suffered a hammering at the hands of Ajax in the Johan Cruyff ArenA.
The Dutch outfit scored three times in 16 first-half minutes through Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus as the Rangers defence again crumbled just four days after their woes at Celtic Park.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst insisted that Rangers do not have the financial might to compete with Europe's top clubs
Substitute Ryan Jack then gifted Steven Bergwijn a late fourth to ensure the scoreline ended the same as their dismal weekend Old Firm loss.
Asked whether he’d been backed enough to compete at this level, Van Bronckhorst said: ‘To compete in the Champions League you need hundreds of millions. Otherwise you can’t compete.
‘Look at Ajax, they sold players worth over £200million. Look at Liverpool as well. For us to compete with them, it’s too much to ask.
‘We want to compete but we want to compete with the squad we have and the squad we’re capable of making. We knew it would be tough and it showed today.’
Van Bronckhorst made just one change from Celtic Park - with Scott Wright replacing Steven Davis - but his faith in a positive response from those retained was not rewarded.
Ajax generated nearly £200million in transfer revenue this summer, including selling Antony to Manchester United
Alvarez scored after being granted a free header from a corner, with that 17th-minute concession beginning a rapid descent that has intensified the scrutiny on Van Bronckhorst.
Seven of last night’s starting
