Idjessi Metsoko has insisted that the new-look Dundee United are fully prepared for the challenge of Rangers in their Premiership opener. The striker, who joined on a season-long loan from Viktoria Plzen, believes the match at Tannadice could be a close contest.
Metsoko said: "It will be difficult against Rangers because they are a strong team. But we are a strong team too and we will give everything for the fans in this game. We will be ready for it."
Expecting a tight contest
The Togo international described the game as potentially "50-50" due to the changes at the club. "This will be maybe 50-50 because when you change a lot of players and the manager, then it depends how you play. Everyone doesn't know how the new players will play so I think it will be 50-50."
Metsoko, who played against Celtic for Slovan Bratislava in a 5-1 Champions League defeat two years ago, said that experience helped convince him to move to Scotland. "The atmosphere was great and the game was very physical. I really liked it so it helped my decision when the chance to join Dundee United came up."
Bringing Champions League experience
The 24-year-old, who has also had loans at Spartak Trnava and Slovan Bratislava, is confident Scottish football suits his style. "The style in Scotland will suit me. It is different to France and the Czech Republic but for me it's much better. It's more physical here so it will be more suited to my type."
Metsoko scored against Stuttgart in the Champions League and hopes to bring that form to Dundee United. "Scoring against Stuttgart was a great experience, it was amazing. The whole thing was a good experience. The level is so high that you realise playing in those games, when you make a mistake it gets punished."
He added: "I want to score goals here and to help Dundee United be successful. On a personal level, I want to be a big part of things here and I believe I can be."
United manager Jim Goodwin is also targeting an opening league win. The club has additionally added Daniel Bennie on loan from QPR.
