Rangers legend Ronald de Boer says Rabbi Matondo has the pace to hurt PSV in the crucial second leg of the Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday (30 August).

Former Netherlands star De Boer said Matondo “looked like he was sitting on a motorbike” when he came off the bench in the first encounter at Ibrox, a match in which he scored during the 2-2 draw.

De Boer spent four years at Rangers and, though he thinks PSV have the edge ahead of the game, is hopeful his old club and Matondo can get the job done.

“I was impressed with the Rangers winger who came on – Rabbi Matondo. That boy looked like he was sitting on a motorbike, he was so fast. All it would take is one slip from a PSV player and that kid would be away and the tie could turn out differently,” De Boer said in quotes reported by the Daily Record.

“If you look realistically, there is a 70 per cent chance that PSV will make it and 30 per cent Rangers. It also has a bit to do with luck. I have a blue heart though so I hope Rangers win and go through, but I am also an analyst and I think PSV is a better team.”

Some praise

Matondo struggled for game time and momentum during his first campaign at Ibrox last term, but is already making a decent impression this time around.

And certainly, it was a brilliant effort against PSV last week that caught the eye on a bona fide Rangers legend, one who won a treble with Rangers in the 2002-03 campaign.

For Matondo, it is now about really kicking on and affecting games, especially these huge nights, on a consistent basis. Michael Beale made nine new signings during the transfer window, and put particular focus on improving the final third in his squad.

But that does not mean he cannot really stake his own claim for a spot, and boy there would be no better time to make another statement than by helping to fire Rangers into the group stages of the Champions League.

If he can do that, then more opportunities will arise for himself and for Rangers.

In other Rangers news, Neil Lennon makes ‘huge’ admission ahead of the Old Firm derby.

This article was originally posted here