Rangers would receive such a boost getting past Victoria Plzen | OneFootball

Rangers travel to the Czech Republic, or Czechia these days, for the second leg of a vital third-round Champions League qualifier. The first leg was a rampant victory last week at Ibrox, with Rangers comfortably dispatching a Sulc-less Pilsen 3-0 courtesy of three very nice goals. It gave Russell Martin a little bit of slack. He gained a lot of praise and a lot of goodwill from fans in light of his perceived better team selection. We now plan for Plzen v Rangers second leg.

Unfortunately, we all know what happened against Dundee. It was not so good there, as the side fell to yet another dropping of points with more or less the same XI that had so triumphantly put away the Czech outfit. The second leg will now get underway and Rangers really need to win this one. Ibrox Noise has no illusions of doing well in the Champions League. We barely expect to win a single match and barely expect to draw any. But we do need the money.

Rangers have spent a fair bit this summer, a surprising amount. However, the £40m baseline or absolute critical baseline of £37m guaranteed for reaching the League stage is utterly vital. For a club of Rangers’ size to have had that money only once in the past 13 years is abysmal. The financial rewards on offer for clubs in the Champions League are no laughing matter. It is the promised land for a club with Rangers’ size and needs.

The Europa League will win some money and it does generate cash, but it is modest compared with the Champions League. The Champions League is where the cash is. We need to get past Plzen and then past Bruges/Salzburg. Simple as that, Rangers must reach the final stage. Plzen is just the next hurdle in Plzen v Rangers second leg.

With Rangers’ dire performance at the weekend against Dundee still fresh in the mind, Plzen may see chinks in the armour. Even though they have lost their best player, they may still find something new to attack Rangers with. We expect a stronger prospect in Czechia than we got in Govan.

Getting past them would give us the playoffs and guarantee around £3m at least. Get to the Champions League phase and that figure skyrockets. It is what Rangers need. Let’s hope we have the Midas touch and continue this excellent European run.