NK OSIJEK head coach Zoran Zekic says that Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos is good, but not great, because the Colombian striker is so inconsistent.
The forward got the only goal of last week’s first leg in Croatia, and also netted in the weekend friendly win over Wigan, suggesting he is finding his form after a lean spell in front of goal at the tail-end of last season.
But Zekic believes that the 22-year-old will have to perform well on a much more regular basis if he is to ever make it at the top level.
“That’s the difference between good players and the highest level,” Zekic said. “The good players play well one in five games, but a high-level player plays in every game.
“I hope tomorrow, he will be only good player, and after that I wish him the best.”
The Croats have been outspoken in expressing their confidence in turning the tie around at Ibrox this evening.
Zekic stated that his side’s opponents last weekend, Hadjuk Split, were stronger than Rangers after doling out a 4-1 defeat to their rivals.
Midfielder Robert Mudrazija also claimed that Osijek were "better, stronger, more skilful and better organised" than Steven Gerrard’s side, as well as bizarrely labelling the Rangers boss "a tiny man".
Rather than downplay the significance of the comments from his players though, Zekic understands where their belief is coming from.
“They said it with reason,” he said. “They played a good game in Osijek.
“It is going to be a totally different game here, I really hope so, and we hope that Rangers will be more open, so we can create more chances.
“We played a high-profile game in the Croatian Cup and won well, so the spirit is high, and we have belief.
“We have huge respect for Rangers, but Osijek need to gain the respect of Rangers, and we are willing to do that.”
Gerrard had suggested after the first leg that all of the pressure was now on Osijek in the tie, but Zekic thinks that the weight of history and the expectation of the home support will pile pressure on to Rangers too.
“We are two totally different teams history-wise,” he said. “The past that Rangers have had and Osijek have had, is almost not fair to compare.
“Nobody can doubt though that Osijek can fight against them tomorrow.
“The pressure is there of course, but when you compare the histories of the clubs, Glasgow Rangers also have pressure.
“We have another game to play and it depends on how our attack will perform. We expect Rangers to be more open in front of their own supporters.
“I want my players to enjoy playing football tomorrow, give 100 per cent, and we’ll see what the result will be.”
If Osijek do fail to overcome Rangers and go out of the Europa League, Zekic is convinced that one of the main reasons for that will lie in the injuries he has to key players, particularly in attack.
“I’m just sorry that I won’t have the attacking players that are important to me,” he said.
“We would give a better impression of ourselves if they were here.
“Gabrijel Boban, Eros Grezda, Muzafer Ejupi, these are all players who would be playing.”
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