Kris Boyd criticizes Rangers players for ‘letting the club down’ in the Europa League defeat to Aris Limassol.
In the Europa League group stage, Rangers were defeated by Cypriot First Division side Aris Limassol. Following a defeat to Aberdeen last weekend, Michael Beale was fired; interim manager Steven Davis took over.
Kris Boyd has criticised Rangers players for “letting the club down” in their Europa League loss to Aris Limassol.
The Gers delivered another rudderless performance against the Cypriot First Division team four days after replacing manager Michael Beale following a 3-1 home loss to Aberdeen.
Alex Moucketou-Moussounda headed past Jack Butland in the ninth minute, and Shavy Babicka doubled the hosts’ lead in the second half.
Abdallah Sima pulled one back, but it wasn’t enough to keep interim manager Steven Davis from a humiliating defeat, leaving Sky Sports’ Boyd enraged at his former club’s performance.
“Rangers were well-deservedly defeated.” “There’s a lot of work to be done,” he admitted.
Michael Beale has already lost his job, and Steven Davis has fielded a team that has once again let the club down.
“The performance level was nowhere near what is expected of Rangers players.” Some people truly need to look in the mirror.
“I’m just delighted I’m going to go and walk my dog because that will be more exciting than what I’ve just watched.”
Rangers might be as many as ten points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic when they host St Mirren on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
They were thrashed by PSV Eindhoven in Champions League qualifying before falling to Celtic in their first match of the season – and Boyd believes the team has declined as a result of bad recruitment.
“You look at the team that got to the Europa League final, and the recruitment since then has been atrocious.” “It’s been terrible,” he remarked.
“There have been players who have failed to live up to expectations and others who may have been there for too long.” It may be time to let some of them go.
Rangers are not experiencing this at the time. They lost at the weekend, the manager was fired, managers come and go, but there are only so many times you can witness the same players go up to the audience, clap them, and apologize. It’s past time they put on a show and got something in return.
“Rangers fans spend a lot of money travelling not only all over Scotland but Europe watching their team and they’ve been let down again.”
Davis: I have to accept some blame.
“It was a really difficult night because we felt we had a real opportunity to come here and build on the Betis game,” Rangers interim manager Steven Davis said.
“I believe we caused many of our own problems in the game.” Obviously, we’re dissatisfied with the two goals we’ve given away, and when that occurs, you’ve got a mountain to climb.
“First and foremost, I must accept responsibility.” We continued attempting to play in the middle of the pitch when it wasn’t really on in the first half, and they were brilliant at transitioning from that with the pace they had up front, which gave us difficulties all night.
“When you’re down in the second half, you have to throw caution to the wind at times.” We tried to simplify the game by getting the ball in behind, wide, and crossing it into the box, but we ultimately didn’t accomplish enough to win the game.
“In terms of the players’ effort, I thought they tried to keep going until the end, and in terms of the energy they put in, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
“There was no lack of effort, we’d never question that from the locker room, but it’s a really difficult time for everyone.” When this happens, you may begin to make poor decisions and other such things.
“Sunday is approaching, and it’s a very short turnaround. We’re hurting from tonight, but it’s critical that we keep together as a group.”
