Rangers supporters have been pretty upbeat in the last few hours after seeing their side twice come from behind to earn a hard-fought draw in their opening Europa League group stage clash on Thursday night.
Steven Gerrard’s men did incredibly well to even reach the group stages in coming through three qualifying rounds and indeed a play-off against Russian side Ufa, and went into their trip to Villarreal on Thursday off the back of victory over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership at the weekend. And the Gers were made to work for their 2-2 draw by the Spaniards on Thursday as the hosts twice led through Carlos Bacca and Gerard Moreno, only for the Light Blues to twice hit back through goals from Scott Arfield and Kyle Lafferty to share the spoils.
Thus, there have been many satisfied Rangers fans up and down the country in recent times, although several took to Twitter during the game to blast Gerrard’s decision to omit defender Nikola Katic from the starting eleven.
The 21-year-old made the move to Ibrox during the summer and has made a fine start to life north of the border, starting all 14 of their games this season prior to the trip to Villarreal on Thursday.
Yet the centre back was dropped by manager Gerrard and replaced in the heart of the defence by fellow summer signing Joe Worrall, and that was a decision that seemingly backfired given Worrall and centre back partner Connor Goldson made something of a mess of the opening goal for the La Liga club.
And while it didn’t lead to a Light Blues defeat on Thursday, plenty of Rangers fans took to Twitter to express their discontent at the decision made by Gerrard to take Katic out of his starting eleven…
I’ve no idea why he’s changed the defense for such a big game anyway man if Katic isn’t injured it’s baffling.
— Stuart. (@StuPollock1) September 20, 2018
If katic has been rested then it’s a terrible managerial decision
— Beattie (@michaelbeattie_) September 20, 2018
If its not an injury to Katic then its a ludicrous decision from Gerrard to change it for this game
— Faceless (@FacelessRanger) September 20, 2018
Katic would’ve stopped Bacca. Just saying.
— El Búfalo (@notmorelos) September 20, 2018
Just want Katic back
— Yoshimcubb (@yoshimcubb) September 20, 2018
Missing katic massively
— John (@JohnBoyd_1690) September 20, 2018
Not even angry should never had dropped katic
— (@Murri72) September 20, 2018
Can’t understand why he changed the Katic and Goldson partnership out with the Motherwell game they’ve been solid
— Harrison Crowe (@harricrowe) September 20, 2018
Leaving katic out is a disgrace, he’s been our best defender this season, if anything it should have been goldson left out, he’s looked dodgy in a couple of games, katic hasn’t put a foot wrong
— Jim (@n1ghtman) September 20, 2018
Rangers fans… what do you think? Let us know!
