bbc.co.uk
Villarreal spy slams Rangers duo
Cabello hopes to expose the gaps between Kyrgiakos and Andrews
Villarreal chief scout Javier Cabello, has attacked Rangers' rearguard ahead of their Champions League showdown next week at Ibrox.
He was speaking as captain Quique Alvarez was ruled out with a muscle tear during their 1-0 defeat by Celta Vigo at the weekend.
"The Rangers defence, especially the centre halves Kyrgiakos and Andrews, are very weak and too slow.
"While they are good in the air, we can take advantage of them," he said.
Cabello, who attended Sunday's Old Firm encounter, is clearly confident ahead of next Wednesday's Ibrox clash and is encouraged by the fact that Alex McLeish's side are under-performing in the Scottish Premier League. I have to say that the Rangers players look to be low on morale
Javier Cabello
"We score a lot of goals from set-pieces and will try to hurt them when we are playing near their penalty box," he said.
"I have to say that the Rangers players look to be low on morale.
"It seems Rangers run out of ideas and have a mental block when they try to take the initiative."
Amid his frank assessment, Cabello was full of praise for Chris Burke on his recent spying missions, while hinting that the winger could prosper elsewhere in the future.
"I saw Rangers against Aberdeen and Celtic and the player who really caught my eye was Chris Burke," he said.
"He has everything and I expect him to have a tremendous future. I have no doubts about this.
"It was exciting for me to see him taking the ball and trying to go forward. Rangers have a real prospect.
"I will not be surprised if this boy ends up playing for a big club very soon."
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Villarreal players locked their own coach out of a crisis meeting as they search for ways to reverse their poor form ahead of the Rangers game.
The Spanish side were given a boost though, as playmaker Juan Riquelme looks set to win his fitness battle, wherehis absence having coincided with a slump in domestic form.
Midfielder Riquelme has responded well to treatment in Buenos Aires and is expected to make the journey to Glasgow.