Rangers left-back Max Aarons expressed confidence in his team’s title-winning potential following their impressive Champions League triumph against Panathinaikos.
Russell Martin’s squad faced a challenging atmosphere in Athens, where the home team capitalized on their persistent pressure, scoring to cut their aggregate deficit with a 53rd-minute goal. However, substitute Djeidi Gassama turned the tide by finding the net shortly after coming off the bench, marking his second goal of the tie and securing a 3-1 aggregate victory. This win sets up a showdown in the third qualifying round against Viktoria Plzen.
Reflecting on the match, Max Aarons, who joined on loan from Bournemouth this summer, spoke to Rangers TV about the difficulties of playing in such conditions. “It was extremely difficult,” he acknowledged. “Coming to Athens against a top team in their league is always going to be a challenge, and the weather certainly added to that.”
He noted that the team anticipated a different encounter compared to their previous match at Ibrox. “We had to grind it out for sure. It’s interesting because we’re still early on in our journey as a group. This was undoubtedly a test for us, and I believe we met the challenge head-on.”
Max Aarons emphasized that the team demonstrated growth during both legs of the tie. “We grew into the game during the first leg, and we did the same here. It’s an excellent test for us, showing that our group has the resilience to push through tough situations.”
He stressed the importance of this resilience when it comes to competing for league titles and cup competitions. “You have to put in a lot of effort to succeed in those areas. You have to have faith that your teammates will fight with you,” he continued. “I think we definitely showed that spirit, which is really promising to see.” Overall, Max Aarons’ remarks demonstrate a strong belief in the team’s capacity to perform well, a trait that may help them achieve more this season.
