Romanians can dive so we need a strong ref

RANGERS were sent into a Champions League tailspin against Sevilla because their referee was far too weak.

But Jerome Rothen fears that worse could follow against Unirea Urziceni if Tuesday's official isn't strong enough.

Sevilla may have gone on to win comfortably on match night two but Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson's failure to award a blatant penalty when Steven Naismith was tripped in the box denied Rangers a major foothold in the game that night.

Dan Petrescu's Romanian champions come to Ibrox with a reputation for an expansive passing game but with a bad name for enjoying some footballing theatrics.

Ex-Gers striker Steven MacLean, who's now at Plymouth, saw this at first hand during a friendly in the summer - and he has warned his former club that the Unirea players will need no second invitation to hit the deck.

It's an unfortunate trait Rothen has also witnessed when he's faced Romanian opposition at both club and international level.

Although the Frenchman knows Rangers firstly have to play well enough to win the game, he feels the man in the middle could hold the key to his side's fortunes.

The on-loan PSG winger, left, said: "I think it's in the Romanian mentality - but they are not in the position they are in as a club only through cheating.

"Obviously these things can change a match but in the long term it's not good. There isn't one team specifically I remember doing it but the Romanians and Italians are known for it.

"I've experience of it. I have played against the Romanian national team and we won 2-0 over there. I've played against Steaua Bucharest and Rapid Bucharest at club level as well.

"It's very important we have a strong referee this week. We hope that he is better than the one we had when we played Sevilla.

"The mentality here is different. That people want to play properly and by the rules, the same as in England.

"I respect the mentality here. It's a good one and that was one of the main factors which attracted me.

"Unirea are obviously a good team and this is a very important match for us to win because psychologically a win would give us an advantage over both them and Stuttgart. It's maybe not crucial to win both games against Unirea but if we can take four points that would give us a good chance."

The smart money is on the 31-year-old Frenchman being handed a starting place against the Romanians.

Despite only featuring in three out of his side's opening seven league games, he started against both Stuttgart and Sevilla - playing the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw in Germany.

Those starring roles were at odds with his unused substitute part he'd to settle for in the Old Firm game. Despite the disparity between his domestic and European involvement, Rothen feels he will go on to become a regular in all competitions.

He added: "I was disappointed not to play in such a big match as the Old Firm game at Ibrox but I was happy with the result and I hope next time I will be able to play.

"I was only able to speak to Walter Smith for the first time last week - obviously he has his reasons, but we had a break for international duty and we haven't been able to speak.

"The atmosphere at the Old Firm match was great. People told me about it before and I hope to be on the pitch during the next one because it's one of the biggest derby matches in the world.

"Even though I didn't play against Celtic I think I've shown that I'm beginning to adapt to Scottish football. I think the football here is more physical but in the games we play at home in the league I think we can make it less so.

"I've had experience in the Champions League in the past so the football at that level has not surprised me.

"I'm settling in well. I'm in an apartment in Glasgow now and I like it. The people are very welcoming and friendly here. I live in the city centre and it's very lovely. I still talk to my old Monaco team-mate Dado Prso and that helps me. I spoke to him before I signed for Rangers and he told me lots of good things."

Rothen badly needs big-stage games like Tuesday's to maintain his profile back in France. With a World Cup campaign possibly waiting at the end of the season, he needs to shine on European nights if he's to stand any chance of adding to his 13 caps for France in South Africa next summer.

He said: "I went back to France for the international break where I'm still in touch with many of my old team-mates.

"The French press are also still covering me and I hope to return to the national team.

"That's why I have to play - I need to play lots, do well and get back in. We are in the play-offs for the World Cup so fingers crossed."

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