Advocaat calls for total effort as Rangers eye success

The Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat, has urged his players to hold nothing back as the club stands on the threshold of a second successive qualification for the group stages of the Champions' League.

The Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat, has urged his players to hold nothing back as the club stands on the threshold of a second successive qualification for the group stages of the Champions' League.

Rangers hold a 3-0 lead over Danish side Herfolge before their third qualifying round, second leg at Ibrox.

The Herfolge manager, John Jensen, has told his side that they need to be more physical for the away leg if they are to haul themselves back into the game. But Advocaat insists that his team must not shirk their commitment to finishing the job.

"It is important not to pick up yellow cards but it is important to win the game," said Advocaat.

"You only win games if the commitment is there. If we start saying 'Be careful', it is not a good point to go into a game.

"If they are more aggressive, they will have problems with the referee. He can do it in a home game but, in an away game, no chance.

"If a player does not perform as he can, it is simple. Every player must have a good performance and they will do that because they like playing.

"I always like to win with style but that is not always possible. If they try to play aggressively, we will have to react to that.

"But we must not give them the opportunity to play that way. We can only give them the opportunity to play if we play one against one. But if we are too quick, they have no chance to kick somebody."

Advocaat added: "It is very important for Rangers that we are involved in the Champions' League.

"Everybody expects that. We have a big advantage with a 3-0 lead from the away game but we still have to do it. There are lots of examples of the home club winning the away game and losing the home game and we don't want to do that.

"So the most important thing is getting a result and then we will get into the Champions' League, which will be a big success for this club - two successive years in the group stages.

"It will also be a big advantage for the players for financial and experience reasons."

Advocaat attacked claims by his former player Paul Ritchie that he ruled the dressing-room with fear. He must know that after 70 days. I have a gun as well! The players haven't seen it yet but it will come," joked Advocaat.

"He was probably afraid for himself. If you have confidence in yourself, you stay but I understand him because, if you have an opportunity to play for a club like Manchester City, it is not difficult to move.

"But he shouldn't start saying things because he will make it difficult for himself in my opinion. I am strict but that has nothing to do with fear. Again, if Ritchie was better than the other defenders, then he would play. It is quite simple."

Kenny Miller is still missing with an ankle injury, but Lorenzo Amoruso is fit after a suspected groin problem.

Michael Mols and Arthur Numan will get their first run-outs of the season in the friendly against Glentoran on Tuesday, but the defender Craig Moore is still not expected to return for another five or six weeks.