Bremen Star Glad Rangers Are Missing Darcheville

Mar 2 2008 By Gavin Berry In Bremen

SWEDISH star Markus Rosenberg has admitted it's a huge boost to Werder Bremen that Jean-Claude Darcheville is out of Thursday's UEFA Cup last-16 clash at Ibrox.

Darcheville, sent off against Lyon in the Champions League defeat at Ibrox, will serve the final game of his three-match Euro ban when the Gers go up against the German side.

And Rosenberg, 25, hopes his team will take full advantage of Darcheville's absence as the Bundesliga outfit look to gain a first-leg advantage to take back to the Weser Stadium on March 13.

The ex-Ajax frontman said: "I know Rangers have a strong squad with quality players and of their team the players I know best are Barry Ferguson and Darcheville.

"Darcheville is just someone who stands out because when you watch European football you'd see him playing in France for Bordeaux.

"You just remember certain players' names when they score goals and Darcheville was one of them and I know he scored twice against Hearts on Wednesday.

"Obviously he is suspended for the first leg of this tie and I have to say I'm pleased because he is an important player.

"I haven't seen that much of Rangers but I knew when they played Panathinaikos it was going to be a difficult game for them and they got through which shows their strength.

"They also played Stuttgart who are German champions and they beat them which is another warning for us."

Rosenberg reckons both Werder Bremen and Rangers will be looking to win the UEFA Cup.

He said: "I believe we can do it. This is a game between two big clubs who are both capable of going all the way. There are a lot of good teams left in the tournament but there is no reason why either side can't win it."

Bremen have been plagued by injury problems this season with almost an entire team ruled out at the end of last year but Rosenberg (right) revealed the situation is improving rapidly and at just the right moment.

Torsten Frings, Peter Niemeyer and Pierre Wome are now the only long-term casualties and Rosenberg said: "It's getting better and our defender Sebastian Boenisch played for the first time in five months last week which is another boost for us.

"We've had a lot of injuries which hasn't made things easy but we have a good squad so we've managed to cope.

"With each week that passes more players are returning so it's starting to look better and at a crucial stage."