Former Rangers striker Oleg Salenko reckons the real reason the Ibrox side got dumped out of the Champions League was because of their weak midfield.

Rangers were furious at the red card flashed to Brazilian ace Jefte after he collected a second yellow card during their defeat to Dynamo Kyiv this week.

However, Salenko - who scored five goals in one game for Russia in the 1994 World Cup before moving to Rangers from Valencia the following year and also played for Ukraine - reckons his former side should look closer to home for reasons for their elimination.

He said: "Rangers had no midfield - they had no team spirit, unlike Dynamo.

"I can understand why they were unhappy at the sending off because in Scottish football, the Rangers player wouldn't have even have received any of the yellow cards.

"They are used to playing that way in Scotland. Of course, the red card gave Dynamo a lucky break because it meant Rangers were very tired at the end of the match. And Dynamo certainly won it in midfield."

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Salenko added: "From 70 minutes on, you could tell Rangers were finished. Dynamo will have to improve in the next round though.

"While Rangers are a team that relies on their physicality, Dynamo will now play teams who can also play football."