PSV boss admits Rangers defeat last time around remains in the players’ heads

Pumped-up PSV boss Peter Bosz has urged his Champions League hopefuls to embrace the “healthy tension” as the Dutch side look to end five-years in the group-stage wilderness.

The Eredivisie giants are preparing to host Rangers in a money-spinning shoot-out that could see them bank £30million if they can secure a place among the European elite. But to do that, PSV will have to take a leap they haven’t managed since 2018. Eindhoven have already suffered the agony of losing to Gers having fallen at the final hurdle this time last year. Their qualification curse has also seen them slip-up in crucial group-stage eliminators against Basel and Benfica in that time. But Bosz hopes this time it will be their turn to pull up a seat at Uefa’s top table.

The Dutch gaffer - who could be boosted by the shock return of experienced Holland defender Patrick van Aanholt - said: “In every game there’s a healthy tension. But this is something you look forward to. These kind of games are the best games to play or manage in. So let’s enjoy it and hopefully we can win it. I’m always full of confidence. I still think we have good players and we can play well together.

"We have individual players who can decide a game. Therefore I have a lot of confidence. But on the other hand we saw what Rangers are capable of so we have a lot of respect for the opponent. We must be really focused and play at 100 per cent to finally win this game tomorrow.”

PSV’s star midfield man Ibrahim Sangare was the fall guy in last week’s 2-2 Ibrox draw as he was stripped of possession in the build up to Abdallah Sima’s opener. It was a mistake that echoed back to last season’s Brazilian blunder when defender Andre Ramalho left his side exposed in the Philips Stadion as