COCKY boss Henrik Rydstorm is fully behind his club’s cheeky video reminder of Rangers’ last meetings with Malmo.
The Swedes’ social media squad aired a pre-match clip of clashes in 2011 and 2021 – where they triumphed on both occasions.
Malmo knocked Rangers out of the Champions League qualifiers in 2011[/caption]
Henrik Rydstrom is confident his side can add to the list[/caption]
First in 2011 they defeated Ally McCoist‘s side in a season that would end in financial turmoil and Rangers restarting the following season from the Third Division.
A decade on, Antonio Colak put Steven Gerrard‘s Champions League hopes to the sword just a few months before the manager’s departure – though Gers would make the Europa League final that year.
And Rydstorm reckons there’s no harm in issuing Rangers another Europa League reminder – because he thinks the result will “probably happen again”.
That will be decided on Thursday night in the 5.15pm kick off – but histopry SI repeating itself in the build-up to the big match, if the Malmo mischief is anything to go by.
Back in 2021 then boss Jon Dahl Tomasson riled up the Rangers support with his smirking swipe at the Ibrox side’s cash position.
He famously said, with a wry smirk: “Is the pressure on us or them?
“Don’t you think that they need the Champions League’s money here? I think so.
“I think they need that. I think that’s a good answer, isn’t it?”
The taunt instantly went viral and the latest banter was raised at his successor Rydstorm’s pre-match press conference.
And he reckons it’s a timely reminder and is confident in his side’s chances in the new-look competition.
He said: “I haven’t seen the video but if I know our media department, it’s done with a lot of love, and I think we need that in football.
“I believe it’s a good one, and it’s never a bad thing to remind the opponent that this happened before… and it will probably happen again.”
The sides have a history – and for Rangers it’s not a great record.
Of the matches between the teams Gers have yet to triumph in four attempts.
Swedish struggles
RANGERS must make history on Thursday night if they are to get their Europa League group campaign off to the perfect start.
by Roger Hannah
Gers have NEVER beaten the Swedes in four previous meetings – and have suffered three damaging defeats to them.
Here, SunSport looks back on those games as Philippe Clement prepares to take his squad to Scandinavia for the opener on Thursday evening.
Rangers 0 Malmo 1
Champions League qualifier – July 26, 2011
ALLY McCOIST’S champions suffered a shock home defeat as Daniel Larsson hit the only goal in the first-half at Ibrox.
New boss McCoist, who had stepped up to succeed Walter Smith, stuck with the stars who had won the title at Rugby Park just two months earlier.
But the loss of captain David Weir to injury shortly after Larsson’s goal was another blow and Gers couldn’t equalise.
Malmo 1 Rangers 1
Champions League qualifier – August 3, 2011
NINE-MAN Gers were dumped out of the Champions League by Malmo in a bad-tempered encounter in Sweden.
Nikica Jelavic’s goal had levelled the tie in the 23rd minute but red cards for Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra hit McCoist’s side.
The Swedes were reduced to ten men when Ferreira Ricardinho saw red but an 80th minute goal from Jiloan Hamad put the tie out of reach.
Malmo 2 Rangers 1
Champions League qualifier – August 3, 2021
EXACTLY a decade after Gers’ elimination in Sweden, they returned to Malmo and suffered another damaging result.
Soren Rieks and Veljko Birmancevic scored two goals in two minutes after the break as Steven Gerrard’s side wobbled.
Steven Davis scored in injury-time to give Gers hope for the second leg at Ibrox – but more woe awaited them just days later.
Rangers 1 Malmo 2
Champions League qualifier – August 10, 2021
A;FREDO MORELOS cancelled out Malmo’s first-leg after just 18 minutes and Gers fans believed they were on the way to victory.
That feeling was fuelled when Malmo’s Bonke Innocent was sent-off in first-half stoppage time with the tie balanced on a knife-edge.
But Gers collapsed in the second half and Croatian striker Antonio Colak – who would later sign for Gers – scored twice inside four minutes to send the Swedes through 4-2 on aggregate.
Comparing this clash to the one in the Champions League qualifiers three years ago, he added: “It’s impossible to measure it – also it’s new players, new coach [for Rangers] and it’s basically the same for us.
“We talked about this sometimes before other games also in Allsvenskan, where AIK have won here for a long, long time.
“It’s not the same players, the same coaches, but in some way, that can still be alive, the history. But as I started to say, it’s impossible to measure.
“The thing is, or maybe it’s the only thing, is that it’s a belief here in Malmö that we are good and that we can beat the Rangers and it’s also the same for the supporters.”
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