logo
Ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish reflects on Euro agony vs Panathinaikos and offers Walter Smith advice to Russell Martin

Ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish reflects on Euro agony vs Panathinaikos and offers Walter Smith advice to Russell Martin

Scottish Sun3 days ago
He's shared some memories of his early days at Ibrox
GREEK TRAGEDY Ex-Rangers boss Alex McLeish reflects on Euro agony vs Panathinaikos and offers Walter Smith advice to Russell Martin
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ALEX McLEISH saw his European dreams crushed the last time Rangers faced Panathinaikos in the Champions League.
Now he hopes Russell Martin's side make amends on Tuesday night.
Sign up for the Rangers newsletter
Sign up
6
Michael Mols' goal wasn't enough to stop Rangers going down to Panathinaikos
6
Alex McLeish's men needed to win at Ibrox to drop into the UEFA Cup
6
But the 3-1 defeat saw McLeish's charges crash out of Europe
Eck was in charge at Ibrox when they hosted the Greeks in the group stages in December 2003.
Back-to-back away defeats to Manchester United and Stuttgart, after a home loss to the Old Trafford side, had killed their knockout stage hopes.
Gers had a solid start, beating the Germans in Govan and drawing away in Athens.
Still, a win against the Greeks on matchday six would have seen Rangers into the Uefa Cup.
But a 3-1 loss saw them finish bottom of Group E on goal difference.
Michael Mols put Gers ahead, but goals from Raimondas Zutautas, Angelos Basinas and Michalis Konstantinou stunned Ibrox.
McLeish said: 'We'd got past FC Copenhagen in the qualifying round then started the group well against Stuttgart.
'We could actually have won in Greece too — they scored right at the end to get a draw.
'But 1-1 was a good result, and four points out of six was a good start.
'We were a bit limp in the two United games, and went into the last game at Ibrox knowing a Uefa Cup place was the best we could get.
New Rangers chiefs Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe's first interview
'Mols put us ahead but they equalised straight away, went in front, and hit us with a third on the break when we were pushing forward.
'It was a poor performance, and I just hope Rangers can make amends for it on Tuesday night.
'After the Treble in 2002-03 we'd made a lot of changes to the squad and we were in the middle of a rebuild.
'Barry Ferguson and Lorenzo Amoruso had joined Blackburn, Neil McCann went to Southampton, Arthur Numan had left.
'The squad was definitely weaker and it showed in the European games.
'It was still pretty close against Panathinaikos, but we weren't at the level of previous seasons.'
McLeish knows the pressure is on new Gers boss Martin going into Tuesday's clash — but thought back to his first Old Firm game as manager, the CIS Cup semi-final in 2002, for inspiration.
Eck added: 'I was staying in a hotel and I was stomping around my room the night before with all those thoughts in my head.
Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd?
Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week
SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action?
A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah?
SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you!
So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead!
Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@thesun.co.uk
It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic!
'There had been a bit of scepticism about my appointment, and we were going into my first Old Firm game with Celtic going for back-to-back Trebles.
'I'd the wee devil on one side going, 'What if you never beat Celtic? You'll go down in history as a dumpling'.
"And the wee angel was going, 'But what if you win? How good would it be?'.
'I rang Sir Alex Ferguson that night and had a chat, told him how we were going into the game as underdogs.
'He said to make sure my defence was locked tight, but also to make sure I'd one or two in the team with the X-factor.
'Being honest, I wasn't envisaging Bert Konterman as my X-factor guy!
6
"But he was the hero of the hour with his flash of inspiration to win the game.
'I get the fans' concern about whether there's been enough preparation for this.
'But it would be a fantastic boost if Russell got his tactics right and got a result. It would silence the doubters.
'For me, that Celtic game lit the touchpaper and we went on to win trophies. So it just takes one result.
6
Alex McLeish hopes Russell Martin fares better against the Greeks than he did
"But Russell will know it's going to be tough. Greece's international team were really good against Scotland in the Nations League play-off in March.
'It's not going be a walkover and I don't think people are thinking that way.
'It might be that Rangers need that underdog mentality. Make sure they are absolutely watertight but still have a bit of flair, with match winners in the side.
'Russell had a very difficult job at Southampton and he knows the demands at Rangers.
'I think back to going to dinner with Walter Smith and our wives when I took over.
"I asked if he had any tips for me, and he looked furtively over his shoulder and leaned forward towards me.
'I thought, 'Brilliant, I'm going to get some penetrating insight, the benefit of all his experience'.
6
'And he said, 'Just f****** win, that's all there is to it!'. I carried that into every single game.
'Russell has been at Rangers, he knows there are critics everywhere and that expectation of winning every week.
'It would be nice to go to Greece with a 2-0 lead. But it will be difficult.'
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'What a turnaround' for Rangers but 'a lot still to improve'
'What a turnaround' for Rangers but 'a lot still to improve'

BBC News

time26 minutes ago

  • BBC News

'What a turnaround' for Rangers but 'a lot still to improve'

We asked for your views after Russell Martin began his Rangers reign with a 2-0 win against Panathinaikos in the first leg of their Champions League second-round what some of you said:Fraser: Wow. I did not expect that and to quote the old cliche it was a game of two halves. We should have been two or three nil down at half-time, but for the brilliance of Jack Butland, he was my man of the match. Fingers crossed for next The first half was not great and we rode our luck, but we improved in the second half. The new signings looked decent on first We don't like it easy, do we? Good win, eventually, I'm hoping for a repeat in Athens next time What a memorable moment for 18-year-old Findlay Curtis, the youngest player in the team. Absolutely superb. What a result!David: First half was "behind the sofa" stuff but what a turnaround, helped by the Greeks going down to 10 men and completely losing their shape. The spaces we just couldn't find before started to appear and what a confidence boost the first goal gave us. We looked really good for the rest of the game. Russell Martin's possession-based game was evident and very easy on the eye. A lot of areas still to improve but very encouraging for the first Good start, we can get better when we are able to play all the It is very early days and the performance, despite the goals, was poor. The tactics in the first half with Nicolas Raskin slotting in to a left-back role was questionable. The improvement when Raskin reverted to his normal role was noticeable. Curtis did himself no harm and earned his spot in the team.

Jamie Vardy to Celtic transfer curveball would throw up Mission Impossible scenario for Rangers
Jamie Vardy to Celtic transfer curveball would throw up Mission Impossible scenario for Rangers

Daily Record

time28 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Jamie Vardy to Celtic transfer curveball would throw up Mission Impossible scenario for Rangers

The Premier League icon is still without a club after calling time on his incredible 13 years with Leicester City earlier this summer Whispers of Jamie Vardy making a sensational switch to Rangers refuse to go away. ‌ But Paul Dickov reckons Celtic would be truly uncatchable if Brendan Rodgers lured the Premier League icon to Parkhead. ‌ Vardy, 38, is still a free agent after departing Leicester City as the club's greatest-ever player at the end of last season. ‌ The former England goal machine has been linked with the likes of Man United and Newcastle, as well as a transfer north of the border. But ex-Foxes hero Dickov believes the veteran hitman would be a formidable signing for five-in-a-row chasing Celtic. Vardy played under Rodgers at the King Power Stadium and with Celts in the market for more firepower, Dickov has no doubt he would fire the Hoops to title no.56. He told WDW Bingo: "Jamie Vardy at 38, has still got a hell of a lot to offer. He's still got the hunger, and real desire in his game. "I'm sure he has plenty of offers from clubs all over the world, but wherever he chooses will gain a Premier League legend and a wealth of experience. "Aside from his experience, his goal-scoring hasn't slowed down. He scored nine goals last season in a poor Leicester team in the most challenging league in the world, so he will score plenty wherever he moves. ‌ "It's difficult to pinpoint where Jamie is going to land, but it could be a real swing in the next couple of seasons of the Scottish Premiership. "If he went to Celtic, it would make it even more difficult for the rest of the teams to catch them. I would go as far as to say borderline impossible. ‌ "However, if he chose Rangers, he could really drag them closer to Celtic with the goals he would score. "If he signs for Rangers, Scotland would have a really competitive league next season, which would be great to watch and draw eyes to the games. "That's how big a factor he could be, and people keep talking about his age, but he is chasing down defenders as well as he was ten years ago, from what I can see. "Whoever signs Vardy will have a fantastic asset who will guarantee goals and energy from the front."

Aberdeen star in loan exit despite Jimmy Thelin praise
Aberdeen star in loan exit despite Jimmy Thelin praise

The Herald Scotland

time40 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Aberdeen star in loan exit despite Jimmy Thelin praise

After signing in 2022, the 24-year-old has found it difficult to become a regular and has had two loans back in the Netherlands with Excelsior Rotterdam and Emmen. He was back with the Scottish Cup winners last season and scored two goals in 11 Premiership appearances. He now heads back out in search of more regular football despite being praised for his work rate by [[Aberdeen]] manager Jimmy Thelin. Read more: As the Helsinki loan was announced, the Swede said: 'Vicente's worked hard in pre-season and he has a clear desire to play regularly at this stage of his career. 'While we haven't been able to promise him that at Aberdeen, we believe this is the right opportunity for him to secure regular time on the pitch. 'With our club being very familiar with HJK from the relationships that have developed previously, and having recently dealt with them over the arrival of Topi Keskinen, we know they have a very good environment. "This move should provide Vicente the game time he needs in a competitive league with a team who have European football to look forward to and we hope it is the perfect platform for him to flourish.' Besuijen has 11 goals from 57 appearances to date at Aberdeen.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store