Giovanni Van Bronckhorst urges Rangers to block out noise ahead of Europa semi

Rangers boss Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has told his players to block all the outside pressures in their bid to reach the Europa League final.

The Light Blues take on RB Leipzig in Germany on Thursday evening in the first leg of their last-four tie, looking to reach the showpiece match for the first time since they finished runners-up to Zenit St Petersburg in the 2008 UEFA Cup.

Former Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Van Bronckhorst, who captained Holland in their 2010 World Cup final defeat to Spain, sees similarities between playing and managing in terms of preparation and knows keeping focused is key.

He said: “Of course it feels different because as a coach you are responsible for the team.

“But what I had as a player, I also have as a coach. You have to concentrate on the preparation for games.

“You have to block all the media, block all the pressure you get from outside to win these legs and just concentrate on your preparation and your performance.

“That’s what the players also have to do – make sure we prepare well, as normal, and when the whistle goes go into the game, give everything you have on the pitch and make sure you have a good result. In that aspect for me it’s no different.”

Van Bronckhorst expressed confidence in his side ahead of the club’s first European semi-final in 14 years.

Rangers have taken care of teams such as Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade and Braga in their run to the last four and the Gers boss is looking for one last push to make the May 18 final.

“Well, of course we have the belief,” Van Bronckhorst said. “If we are still involved in Europe and in a semi-final and you see the run we’ve had in Europe, then it’s been very good.

“But in the end we need another good