Van Bronckhorst wants Rangers to ignore pressure in Europa semis / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP/File
-
Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with tears and calls to action
-
Turkey's opposition says Erdogan's canal plan behind latest arrests
-
Maresca hails 'nasty' Chelsea as top five bid stays alive
-
Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelensky talks at pope's funeral
-
Major blast at Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
-
Napoleon's sword to be sold at auction in Paris
-
Iran, US discuss nuclear deal in third round of talks
-
Buenos Aires farewells native pontiff with call to action
-
Warholm sets hurdles world record at Diamond League, Holloway shocked
-
US students 'race' sperm in reproductive health stunt
-
Wikileaks founder Assange joins crowds for pope funeral
-
Leader Marc Marquez claims Spanish MotoGP sprint victory
-
Celtic win fourth successive Scottish Premiership title
-
Jackson ends drought as Chelsea boost top five push
-
Warholm sets 300m hurdles world record in Diamond League opener
-
Major blast at south Iran port kills 4, injures hundreds
-
Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
-
Francis laid to rest as 400,000 mourn pope 'with an open heart'
-
Trump, Zelensky meet on sidelines of pope's funeral
-
'Shared loss': Filipino Catholics bid Pope Francis farewell
-
Families unable to reunite as India-Pakistan border slams shut
-
Major blast at south Iran port injures hundreds
-
Foreign carmakers strive for 'China Speed' to stay in race
-
Pakistan says open to neutral probe into Kashmir attack after India threats
-
Hundreds of thousands at funeral mourn pope 'with an open heart'
-
Quartararo sets Spanish MotoGP record to claim pole
-
Hamas says open to 5-year Gaza truce, one-time hostages release
-
Iran, US hold new round of high-stakes nuclear talks
-
Up at dawn for front-row seat to history at Francis's funeral
-
Pakistan ready to 'defend sovereignty' after India threats
-
Huge crowds flock to Vatican for Pope Francis's funeral
-
Xi says China must 'overcome' AI chip challenges
-
Indian army says new exchange of gunfire with Pakistan
-
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre takes own life in Australia: family
-
Hundreds of buildings damaged, dozens injured in 6.3 Ecuador quake
-
India and Pakistan's Kashmir fallout hits economy too
-
Francis's funeral to be grand farewell to 'pope of the poor'
-
Pogacar faces defiant Evenepoel at Liege-Bastogne-Liege
-
Chelsea eye great escape against Barcelona in Women's Champions League
-
Iran, US to hold new round of high-level nuclear talks
-
'Energy and effort' pay off for Reds as Blues' woes continue
-
Albatross and closing birdie lift China's Liu to LPGA Chevron lead
-
On the horizon? Wave of momentum for high seas treaty
-
New to The Street Launches For The Causes(TM) Monthly Awareness Segments: Offering Free National Media to Charities and Organizations
-
Top Mistakes to Avoid When Building Credit History
-
Developing countries should fast-track US trade deals: World Bank president
-
Grizzlies' Morant 'doubtful' for must-win game 4 v Thunder
-
Trump in Rome for pope funeral in first foreign trip of new term
-
Trump says Russia-Ukraine deal 'very close' after new Kremlin talks
-
US rookies lead PGA pairs event with McIlroy and Lowry in hunt
NYSE - LSE
Van Bronckhorst wants Rangers to ignore pressure in Europa semis
Giovanni van Bronckhorst has urged his Rangers players to ignore the pressure of trying to reach the club's first European final for 14 years when they face RB Leipzig on Thursday.
Van Bronckhorst's side play the first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Germany, with thousands of the club's fans making the trip for a historic occasion.
It is Rangers' first last-four appearance in a continental competition since 2008, when they lost the UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg.
Van Bronckhorst knows players can easily be overwhelmed by the expectations of Rangers' demanding fanbase.
But the former Barcelona and Netherlands midfielder is determined to keep his squad focused on their individual duties in the first leg rather than worry about the bigger picture.
"You have to block all the media, block all the pressure you get from outside to win these legs and just concentrate on your preparation and your performance," Van Bronckhorst told reporters on Wednesday.
"That's what the players also have to do -- make sure we prepare well, as normal, and when the whistle goes go into the game, give everything you have on the pitch and make sure you have a good result. In that aspect for me it's no different."
Rangers' support in Leipzig is expected to reach at least 7,000 and Van Bronckhorst hopes their passionate backing will help reduce the German side's advantage on their own turf.
"We have had that the whole season when we've played abroad. The fan-base who travel with us are amazing," he said.
"It feels a little bit like playing at home when you are away."
Rangers have beaten Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga in their surprise run.
The Scottish champions might be outsiders to lift the trophy, but Van Bronckhorst wants one last push to reach the May 18 final against West Ham or Eintracht Frankfurt.
"Well, of course we have the belief. If we are still involved in Europe and in a semi-final and you see the run we've had in Europe, then it's been very good," he said.
"The confidence is there but I think also that we know that we have to perform again. Everything we achieved in the past doesn't count against Leipzig.
"I'm sure that we can get good performances in and have a chance to make the final."
P.Stevenson--AMWN