Malmo and theRangers. Who’d have thought it was such a rivalry? Jon Dahl Tomasson has really got to them hasn’t he?
“Is the pressure on us or them? Don’t you think that they need the Champions League’s money here? I think so. I think they need that. I think that’s a good answer, isn’t it?”
This evening will see games in Europe’s secondary competition take place, and our Glasgow rivals theRangers are in Sweden to take on Malmo.
I won’t be watching and couldn’t care less if they win or not, although a defeat for theRangers would certainly be amusing.
A bit of friction
One thing I didn’t realise is the rivalry that exists between the two sides. You can forgive me as they’ve only ever played each other twice in their collective histories. It’s not a big rivalry granted, but there does seem to be a bit of friction between the two clubs, not helped by a cheeky social media post by the Swedish side this week.
It seems that theRangers and their supporters have taken the hump, but I don’t know why as you think they would be well versed in getting ripped by other sides as it happens often enough at domestic level.
“When we met in 2011 you ended up in the fourth division.
“When we met in 2021 you ended up in the Europa League final.
“Welcome back to Malmo, Rangers. We’ve missed you.”
Malmo were managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson who engaged in a bit of mind games with the SMSM before the deciding leg at Ibrox and he gave them a few home truths. Home truths that the SMSM or no opposition domestic manager would ever dream of airing.
Dire financial situation
Tomasson of course laid bare how important the game was to the Ibrox side due to their dire financial situation. Not only was it true, it heaped further pressure on the Ibrox side.
True to form they suffocated under the intensity and lost on the night to a ten man Malmo side, and over the two legs to see a crucial big pay day go down the drain.
Accordingly theRangers have never forgiven Tomasson or Malmo for their very public humiliation. That’s the true reason such a ‘rivalry’ exists.
