£13m Champions League star who turned down Rangers switch responds to League Cup win

Malik Tillman has sent his congratulations to Rangers after the club overcame Aberdeen to lift the League Cup.

The Gers defeated the Dons 1-0 courtesy of a goal from James Tavernier – who else? – to end a 13-year wait to lift the League Cup trophy for the 28th time.

Malik Tillman, who played for Rangers in the 2-1 League Cup Final defeat to Celtic last season, was watching on from afar and sent a message to the club on Instagram.

Responding to an official Rangers post of the Ibrox squad lifting the trophy, Malik Tillman said “Congrats” with a clapping hand emoji.

Malik Tillman responds to League Cup Final win
As Malik Tillman responds to Rangers’ League Cup victory, the USA international will also surely take note of the raucous celebrations in Glasgow after the win.

It’s been a long-time coming for Rangers to lift this trophy and Philippe Clement’s team have succeeded where several before them have failed in recent seasons.

It’s a cup win which has the potential to be a big catalyst for the rest of the season and Malik Tillman might look back on his time at Rangers with some regret in the trophy department.

Having joined the club on loan from German giants Bayern Munich, Malik Tillman picked up the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award but failed to get his hands on a single trophy.

Now impressing in the Champions League on loan at PSV Eindhoven – who reportedly have a £13m (€15m) option to buy on his head – Tillman might’ve actually been a part of the squad this season.

Rangers activated an option to buy on the attacking midfielder before Bayern instantly initiated a buyback, with the attacker opting to move to PSV on loan instead of Ibrox this summer.

Rangers treble chasers can succeed where others have failed
In the last five seasons in particular, the Rangers squad has criminally underperformed on the trophy front and offered meek resistance to Celtic’s dominance.

That the Parkhead side won five trebles in seven seasons is stomach-churning to every Bluenose and whilst the taste of League Cup victory is sweet, the support will never be satiated.

Under Philippe Clement Rangers appear to have appointed a ruthless manager but the Gers boss was quick to shift the focus back onto his players after the match.

As Malik Tillman sends his congratulations, Rangers fans will be hoping this Ibrox squad can succeed where so many others have failed and bring consistent success back to Glasgow’s southside.