Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has urged Uefa to allow his side to play Rangers behind closed doors - to ensure the tournament is completed this season.

The German outfit managed an impressive 3-1 victory at Ibrox in the first-leg before the coronavirus pandemic took hold and forced the suspension of the tournament.

Bundesliga clubs have now began training once more, albeit in small groups, but it has provided hope that the game can return soon. Serious restrictions and protocols remain in place, however, including daily testing.

Rolfes is desperate for the Europa League to be finished this term, with his club in pole position to make it through to the quarter-final. And while he believes other countries can look at German football for inspiration to get their players back on a football pitch, the former Werder Bremen midfielder hopes Uefa will consider behind closed doors clashes - because waiting for fans to be allowed back into stadiums around the globe will take far too long.

"The players have been back training in small groups for a couple of weeks now," Rolfes told Herald and Times Sport. "We are constantly in contact with the league about restrictions and requirements. As a club, for example we measure fever every morning when players arrive. If the body temperature surpasses a certain figure, they have to see our medics right away and return home to avoid contact with anyone else.

"We use locker rooms to separate training groups and have them in for practice at different times to really keep the distance and reduce the risk of anyone getting the virus from any other person.

"The excellent healthcare system in Germany helps by guaranteeing the necessary framework we need and I think that's all important in such a crisis. To make sure we are able to come back. I think our league can also be a role model to some other countries to really get together and unify, so they can play again.

"I think with Uefa, for European football to return, it's a different, unique situation because you have to unite a continent rather than only one country. It will be a challenge but it will be important to start playing again some time.

"All countries are making steps forward and I hope to play the Europa League to the end. We have to finish one competition so we can start a new one. Everyone wants to start a new competition next season, therefore we should finish the current one.

"Without a doubt, I think, we will play the remainder of our European games behind closed doors. It's also in the forecast of the Bundesliga to do the same. The difficulty of it being different countries and the different stages of their fight against coronavirus will lead to this. That's why European games will be without fans. It's the easiest and first step and we should take that step. Not to wait until we can play with spectators because that will might take a long time."