BBC Sportfootball

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 15:32 GMT, Thursday, 23 July 2009 16:32 UK

Gers able to reach last 16 - Edu

By Alasdair Lamont

Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu
Edu enjoyed a successful first season at Ibrox

Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu believes the current squad can reach the Champions League knock-out stages.

The Scottish champions have yet to add to their squad, with boss Walter Smith hinting that this might not change.

But Edu, who will miss the start of the season through injury, says progressing from the Champions League group stage remains a realistic possibility.

"I don't see why not. Obviously we'll be facing tough competition, but you never know what can happen," he said.

Edu says the prospect of playing in Europe's top club competition was a key reason behind his decision to join Rangers last year.

But, while Walter Smith was able to strengthen his squad quite considerably a year ago, the same cannot be said now.

The manager said last week there were currently no plans to make any signings - with the club, like most in Scotland, feeling the pinch in the current financial climate.

Edu, like Nacho Novo before him, insisted it was not for him to say whether the squad needed strengthened, but he put a positive spin on the lack of new summer signings at the club.

"I guess it shows the confidence the gaffer and the rest of the staff have in the team we have," said the United States international.

"They feel the team has the ability to go and defend our title and produce the way we produced last year to win the league.

"We have guys coming back from injury, like Kevin Thomson, which is going to boost our squad."

Champions League progression would be regarded as a welcome bonus for Rangers, but domestic success will continue to be the principal objective.

"Everyone's excited about the results we had last year - winning the double - but we know there's still more to do," said Edu.

"We'd like to improve on last year. You know, hopefully we can repeat that and add another trophy to the shelf and win the treble - that's something you definitely shoot for, as well as doing well in the Champions League."

MY SPORT: DEBATE

Edu was caught by a controversial tackle by Celtic's Glenn Loovens in the final Old Firm game of last season, for which the Dutch defender now faces a Scottish Football Association disciplinary hearing.

Loovens last week insisted the tackle wasn't malicious, as Edu had suggested. But the American was reluctant to continue the debate.

"I called it the way I saw it, he called it the way he saw it, and that's what happens in football," he added.

"There are always going to be different perceptions as to what happened and that's the end of it.

"It is not up to me to decide what is going to happen to him, it's up to the SFA."



Print Sponsor


see also
Adam completes move to Blackpool
04 Aug 09 |  Rangers
Rangers deny Bougherra exit talk
21 Jul 09 |  Rangers
Gers boost over Edu knee injury
15 Jul 09 |  Rangers


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites