Vaclav Cerny has made a strong case for his inclusion in Rangers’ starting lineup against Dynamo Kyiv, urging manager Philippe Clement to trust him with a starting role in the crucial Champions League qualifier.
The Czech winger, who made an immediate impact by scoring the decisive goal in Rangers’ 1-0 win over Motherwell at Hampden Park on Saturday, believes he is ready to contribute more. Despite Clement’s cautious approach, citing the need for Cerny to reach full fitness, the 26-year-old is eager to make a difference in Tuesday night’s match.
“I feel ready to start every single game, if you ask me,” Cerny confidently stated. “I just want to use the two days we have now to recover and get in shape again. I’m going to do my best to be ready. It’s on the manager, obviously, but I’ll do my best to be ready.”
Cerny, who joined Rangers on loan from VfL Wolfsburg, has his sights set on helping the team secure a spot in the Champions League group stage. “Getting into the Champions League is something I want to achieve with this club, with those guys in the dressing room,” he explained. “There is just one wish, and that’s to get there, and we will do all we can to go through. It’s the second leg and they know how we want to play, and we know how they play now.”
Cerny made a significant impact in the first leg in Poland, providing a crucial assist for Cyriel Dessers’ late equalizer. Reflecting on his performance and his goal against Motherwell, Cerny shared his satisfaction with the team’s approach and his own contribution.
“I enjoyed it a lot,” Cerny said of his appearance against Motherwell. “When you know now you’ve got the three points, which we needed and wanted, that helps. But also the performance, especially the first half, was good.”
Cerny also detailed the precision behind his match-winning goal, attributing it to the team’s preparation and execution. “With my goal, basically the action was just what we trained for and what we talked about. It’s tough to get into the team with five in the back, so you need to be creative. In every action, you have to look where the spaces are and use them. We did it perfectly with the quick build-up and we found the spaces, and a good ball from Tav. For me, it was just to take a great touch before I just hit it.”
As Rangers prepare for the decisive second leg against Dynamo Kyiv, Cerny’s determination and hunger for success are clear. Now, the decision rests with Clement on whether to unleash the winger from the start.