Borna Barisic: Win over Real Betis 'felt like the old Rangers'

Rangers defender Borna Barisic believes the team are like their old selves after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Real Betis.

Barisic and his teammates celebrated after Abdallah Sima scored the only goal of the game in the Europa League opener and made it back to back wins following the victory at St Johnstone.

The left-back hit the bar with a second half free kick and Rangers created several other chances as they defeated a La Liga side that are favourites to progress to the knockout stages.

“I think that these two wins are very big, very important today,” the Croatian said. “I felt like we are old Rangers.

“I would say that we’re in a good way. I’m very happy, people are happy, the dressing room is happy.

“There’s games every three or four days now so the schedule is very busy.We just to continue this.”

After losing to PSV Eindhoven and Celtic before the international break, Barisic admitted the atmosphere had not been great at Ibrox but he felt the European win had lifted the mood.

“Of course we have not been happy and have been very disappointed,” he said. “We felt that we didn’t play good some games.

“We lost the derby game and obviously it was a hard two weeks to be here to train. I was not here but people said, and I know that feeling.

“Then we come to St Johnstone and won the game, now this game so that’s why I said that we feel much better now, and happy, but this is only one game.

“We need to continue like this and be positive and try to win games.”

Rangers now face Motherwell on Sunday in the Premiership before taking on Livingston in the Viaplay Cup semi-finals. The next two Europa League matches are away from home, with Rangers travelling to play Aris Limassol and then Sparta Prague.